Resistance To Horizontal Actions in Multi - Storey Buildings

Scheme development: Resistance to horizontal actions in multi-storey, steel-framed, buildings
Scheme Development: Resistance to horizontal actions in multi-storey, steel-framed,

buildings
SS009a-EN-EU
Scheme Development: Resistance to horizontal actions in

multi-storey, steel-framed, buildings
Describes the various means of resisting horizontal actions in multi-storey, steel-framed
buildings and provides initial guidance on sizing.
Contents
1. Forms of construction 2
2. Types of bracing 2
3. Stabilising by concrete core 4

This material is copyright - all rights reserved. Use of this document is subject to the terms and conditions of the Access Steel Licence Agreement
Created on Saturday, November 17, 2007
Page 1

buildings
SS009a-EN-EU
1. Forms of construction
Horizontal actions take the form of wind loads, stabilising forces and, in some regions,
seismic actions. Various generic forms of stabilising system may be used depending on the
height and horizontal scale of the building, as follows:
Medium-rise buildings (4-8 storeys) : Braced bays around the cores or in the façade
or Concrete core
Tall buildings (8-20 storeys) : Concrete core

or Steel plated core
Ultra-tall buildings (20+ storeys) : External bracing

or ‘Frame-tube’ concept
Frame action may be used as an alternative to braced bays. However, it increases the size of
columns and substantially increases the cost of connections. For economy, rigidly-jointed
frames should be avoided where permitted by the building’s architecture. For low or
medium-rise buildings, semi-rigid frames may offer some economy and their use is covered
by the Eurocodes.
2. Types of bracing
Bracing may be in various generic forms, such as X, K and V forms, as in Figure 2.1. Where
X-bracing is used, the bracing members may be designed to act only in tension ( the members
are slender elements that buckle at low compressive forces, thus not being effective in
compression). Where K or V bracing is used, the bracing members must be able to carry
compression forces.
Flat plates or angles may be used for X-bracing but tubular or H sections are generally used
for K or V bracing..
(a) (b) (c) (d)

Key:
(a) X-bracing (c) V-bracing
(b) K-bracing (d) X-bracing
Figure 2.1 Different types of bracing
The nature of the forces in the bracing members is illustrated in Figure 2.2 (the magnitude of
the forces depends on the panel geometry). As shown, compression forces are ignored in
redundant bracing systems.
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buildings
SS009a-EN-EU
+ + 0
0 _
0 + 0 _ + 0
+ + _
0 _
+ _ _ +
0 +
(a) (b)
0 0
+
0
_ + 0
_
_
+
_ 0
+
+
_ + + _
_
+
(c) (d)
Compressive forces positive, tensile forces negative.

Key:
a. Cross bracing (flats) c. Single bracing
b. V-bracing d. K-bracing
Figure 2.2 Forces in X, K and V bracing

It is usually possible to accommodate the bracing within the width of the walls, thus
minimising its effect on architectural detailing. X bracing is the least intrusive. Inverted V or
single bracing may be required to accommodate doorways in walls.
An illustration of X-bracing is shown in Figure 2.3

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buildings
SS009a-EN-EU
Figure 2.3 X-bracing in an 11-storey building

(Photograph courtesy of Bison Structures Ltd)
3. Stabilising by concrete core

Concrete cores are often used in multi-storey buildings, and generally located on plan to
provide for optimum access and service routing. For tall buildings, they are normally placed
centrally as in Figure 3.1 and are constructed by ‘slip forming’, in advance of the installation
of the surrounding steelwork. Their size is determined by the number of lifts, the service
risers and zones for toilets and circulation. The core area typically represents about 5-7% of
the plan area for medium-rise buildings but can increase to 12-20% for high rise buildings.
Steel beams are attached to the concrete core by various methods:

Casting a steel plate within the wall attached by shear connectors to which the beam
connection is subsequently made on-site.
Creating holes or pockets into the wall into which the beams are placed.
The steel plate method allows for positioning of welded attachments, taking into account site
tolerances. The thickness of the concrete wall is typically 200 to 300 mm and sufficient
reinforcement is placed to resist over-turning effects due to wind action. Concrete lintels
above openings often require heavy reinforcement.
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buildings
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15 m 12 m
10 m
15 m
Figure 3.1 Example of a concrete core in a steel framed building

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buildings
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Quality Record
RESOURCE TITLE Scheme Development: Resistance to horizontal actions in multi-
storey, steel-framed, buildings
Reference(s)
ORIGINAL DOCUMENT
Name Company Date
Created by R.M. Lawson SCI Jan 05
Technical content checked by G.W. Owens SCI May 05
Editorial content checked by D.C. Iles SCI May 05
Technical content endorsed by the

following STEEL Partners:
1. UK G.W. Owens SCI 26/5/05
2. France A. Bureau CTICM 26/5/05
3. Sweden A. Olsson SBI 26/5/05

4. Germany C. Mueller RWTH 11/5/05
5. Spain J. Chica Labein 20/5/05
6. Luxembourg M. Haller PARE 26/5/05
Resource approved by Technical G W Owens SCI 31/8/06

Coordinator
TRANSLATED DOCUMENT
This Translation made and checked by:
Translated resource approved by:

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Scheme development: Resistance to horizontal actions in multi-storey, steel-framed, buildings

Scheme Development: Resistance to horizontal actions in multi-storey, steel-framed,

Scheme Development: Resistance to horizontal actions in

3. Stabilising by concrete core 4

Scheme Development: Resistance to horizontal actions in multi-storey, steel-framed,

Tall buildings (8-20 storeys) : Concrete core

Ultra-tall buildings (20+ storeys) : External bracing

(a) (b) (c) (d)

Figure 2.1 Different types of bracing

Scheme Development: Resistance to horizontal actions in multi-storey, steel-framed,

Compressive forces positive, tensile forces negative.

Figure 2.2 Forces in X, K and V bracing

An illustration of X-bracing is shown in Figure 2.3

Scheme Development: Resistance to horizontal actions in multi-storey, steel-framed,

Figure 2.3 X-bracing in an 11-storey building

3. Stabilising by concrete core

Steel beams are attached to the concrete core by various methods:

Scheme Development: Resistance to horizontal actions in multi-storey, steel-framed,

Figure 3.1 Example of a concrete core in a steel framed building

Scheme Development: Resistance to horizontal actions in multi-storey, steel-framed,

Name Company Date

Created by R.M. Lawson SCI Jan 05

Technical content checked by G.W. Owens SCI May 05

Editorial content checked by D.C. Iles SCI May 05

Technical content endorsed by the

1. UK G.W. Owens SCI 26/5/05

2. France A. Bureau CTICM 26/5/05

3. Sweden A. Olsson SBI 26/5/05

4. Germany C. Mueller RWTH 11/5/05

5. Spain J. Chica Labein 20/5/05

6. Luxembourg M. Haller PARE 26/5/05

Resource approved by Technical G W Owens SCI 31/8/06

This Translation made and checked by:

Translated resource approved by:

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