Braced Structures

• Braced frames develop their resistance

to lateral forces by the bracing action of
diagonal members. The braces induce
forces in the associated beams and
columns so that all work together like a
truss with all members subjected to
stresses that are primarily axial.
• . Many braced frame structures designed
without such ductile detailing
consideration have suffered extensive
Braced Structure
damage in past earthquakes, including
failure of bracing members and their
connections
 Concentrically Braced Frames (CBFs)
• Concentrically Braced Frames (CBFs) are a class of structures
resisting lateral loads through a vertical concentric truss system.

• the axes of the members aligning concentrically at the joints.

• CBFs tend to be efficient in resisting lateral forces because they

can provide high strength and stiffness.

• During earthquakes, CBFs are expected to yield and dissipate

energy through post buckling hysteretic behavior of their bracing
members.
• Under cyclic loading, for loads acting in the reversed direction,
the previously buckled brace will yield in tension, whereas the
brace previously yielded in tension will buckle.

• to survive an earthquake, the braces must be able to sustain

large inelastic displacement reversals without significant loss of
strength and stiffness.
 Design Philosophy
• Diagonal braces must be specially designed to sustain plastic
deformations and dissipate hysteretic energy in a stable
manner through successive cycles of buckling in compression
and yielding in tension.

• CBFs must be designed to have appropriate strength and

ductile response.

• SCBFs are designed using capacity design procedures, with

the braces serving as the fuses of the system
 Buckling Mode of Bracing

In-plane buckling
• When the brace buckles out-of-plane, the single gusset
plate is now bending about its weak axis; hinging is
occurring in the gusset plate and not the brace.

• In-plane buckling of the brace may be the preferred

mode of buckling rather than out-of-plane buckling,
since it usually allows for greater energy dissipation by
the bracing system as the frame attempts to deform in-
plane.
 Buckling Mode of Bracing
Out of-plane buckling
• The single gusset plate is now bending about its weak
axis; hinging is occurring in the gusset plate and not
the brace.
• This weak axis gusset plate bending results in
significantly reduced residual in-plane stiffness of
the brace frame and dissipates less energy.
 Configuration
• The configuration of braces also affects system
performance.
• The initial compressive buckling capacity is smaller
than the tensile yield force

• for subsequent buckling cycles, the buckling capacity

is further reduced by the prior inelastic excursion

• Therefore, bracing systems must be balanced so that

the lateral resistance in tension and compression is
similar in both directions

• This means that diagonal bracing must be used in

matched tensile and compressive pairs.
 Single Diagonal Bracing

• For an equal number of braced bays, the single diagonal

will be the least effective since it has half the number of
diagonal members per bay. since it has half the number
of diagonal members per bay.

• When the bay width is less than 15 feet, a single

diagonal brace or single story X bracing should be
considered.
 Single Story X Braces

• The single story X brace, though having two diagonal

members, usually is not practical because of doorways
and other openings.

• There is also the additional detailing for the splicing of

the diagonal members where they cross each other.

• the inelastic deformation capacity of the X-braced

system is somewhat reduced because the inelastic
deformation is concentrated in one-half the brace
length.
 V and Inverted V (Chevron) Braces

• The V or inverted V (chevron) brace configurations are

typically the most efficient architecturally and they are
flexible to allow for openings at the mid-span of the
braced bay.

• The disadvantage of V bracing systems is the

requirement to design the beams for the unbalanced
loading that occurs when the compression brace
buckles and the tension brace pulls down on the beam.
 V and Inverted V (Chevron) Braces
• This is a very conservative assumption which leads to
large beam sizes since most of the beam bending
moment is due to the unbalanced load

C
(Buckled)

Bracing Postbuckling Stage

 Two-Story X Braces
• Experiments suggest that multistory X-bracing offers a
slight advantage in that it provides a somewhat more
robust path for transferring story shear to adjacent
stories even after brace buckling and fracture

• The two-story X brace develops significant dead and

live load axial forces in the braces due to restraint
resulting from the brace/column connection.
SELECTION OF BRACING MEMBERS

• bracing members sections are determined from the

stiffness and strength requirements of the lateral system.

• Typical members used for bracing include structural

tubes, wide flange sections, single angles and
multiple angles.
 Single Angle
Advantages

• Satisfies small loads

• Easy to install

Disadvantages

• Limited member selection.

• Has a relatively poor radius of gyration (r).
 Multiple Angle - Double Angle

Advantages

• Satisfies up to medium load demands.

Disadvantages

• Limited member selection.

• Has a relatively poor radius of gyration (r).
 Structural Tubes (Rectangular HSS Members)

Advantages

• Aesthetic as an architecturally exposed element.

• Higher yield strength than angles.
• Very efficient for keeping a brace confined within the column
web space.

Disadvantage

• Low cyclic fatigue life as compared to wide flange sections due

to cold forming stress concentrations along HSS side wall
radius bends.
 Pipes and Round HSS Sections

Advantages

• Aesthetic as an architecturally exposed element.

Disadvantages

• Difficult to align slots at each end of brace so they are not

rotated relative to each other.
• May require net section reinforcement plates.
 Wide Flange

Advantages

• Many sections commonly available.

• Higher strength than angles.
• Has the highest capacity (due to large selection)

Disadvantage

• The connections to fully engage the cross section

can become complicated.