Steel brace design

Tekla Structural Designer
2022
Tekla Structural Designer

Steel brace design

Steel brace overview

Tekla Structural Designer allows you to analyze and design a steel member with pinned end connections for axial compression and tension.

Steel braces can be specified as rolled I-sections, C-sections, T-sections, rectangular, square and circular hollow sections, angles, double angles, and flat sections.
Note: If working to the US head code, a brace specified as a flat section can only be analyzed, but design is beyond scope.

Design is performed using a set of design forces obtained from 3D Analysis. (Grillage Chasedown Analysis and FE Chasedown Analysis results are not required.)

Applied loading

The following points should be noted:

  • Loads for the brace are derived from the building model.
  • Element loads cannot be applied directly to the brace itself.
  • Live and Roof Live load reductions are not applied.
  • Moments due to self weight loading are ignored.

Design Forces

The design forces for strength checks are obtained from an analysis of the entire structure. Braces can be subject to axial compression or tension, but will not be subject to major and minor axis bending.

Input method for A and V Braces

A and V Braces should be modeled using special tools which can be found on the 'Steel Brace' drop list in the 'Steel' section on the 'Model' tab.

Although it is also possible to model the exact same brace arrangement using individual elements created using the simple 'Steel Brace' command, it is important to note that whilst the Notional Loads \ EHFs (Equivalent Horizontal Forces) calculated for models built using the A or V Brace tools are correct, this is not the case when the A or V braces are built up out of individual brace members. In this latter case, elements of the vertical loads that are supported by the bracing system are 'lost' and are not included in the Notional Load \ EHF calculations with the result that the calculated Notional Loads \ EHFs are not correct.

Steel brace in tension

The net area of the section is required for tension checks. This can be specified either as:

  • Percentage value
  • Effective net area
Note: If designing to British Standards, see Steel brace design to BS 5950 - Axial tension
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