Brace properties

Tekla Structural Designer
Modified: 3 Apr 2024
2024
Tekla Structural Designer

Brace properties

When a brace is selected, its properties are displayed in the Properties window.

The displayed properties are described below for each of the available material types.

Steel brace properties

Property Description
General
Name The automatically generated name.
User Name Can be used to override the automatically generated name if required.
Group The name of the group to which the member belongs.

See: Steel member design groups

Plane Indicates the level or frame within which the member is placed.
Characteristic Brace
Active Clearing this option makes braces inactive in the analysis.

See: Inactive members

Element type Beam
Material type Steel

Construction

The available construction options depend on the characteristic and material type selected, see Member characteristic, construction and fabrication properties

Fabrication

The available fabrication options depend on the characteristic and material type selected, see Member characteristic, construction and fabrication properties
Autodesign

See: Steel member autodesign

Design section order

[Only displayed when 'Autodesign' is selected]

The design order file from which a section size will be selected.

For details of managing order files, see: Manage design section orders

Rotation

Rotation of the member about its local x axis.

The default (Degrees0) aligns the major properties with the global Z axis, (provided that the member has not been specifically defined within an incline plane).

Alignment
Global offset end 1,

end 2

Can be used to model a physical offset with respect to the global axes at one or both ends of the member, (exceptions apply).

See: Member global offsets

Major snap level,

Minor snap level

Defines the major and minor alignment of the member relative to the insertion point.
Major offset,

Minor offset

Used to offset the member from the snap point in the major and minor axis.
Property Description
Span
Section The section size
Geometry (automatic design)

[Only displayed if Autodesign is selected]

The cross section type to be designed

Grade

Steel grade
Connection
  • Bolted
  • Welded
Compression only,

Tension only

Specify if the brace is compression only, or tension only.
Note: Tension only and Compression only members are non-linear elements and therefore require non-linear analysis. If linear analysis is performed they will be treated as linear elements
Relaxation factor

[Only displayed if the brace is tension only]

Default 0.0.

Any value entered is not used unless you also check the ‘Use relaxation factors for tension only elements’ box in Analysis Options.

Note: It is highly unlikely that you would ever need to set a specific release factor for an individual brace.

See 1st order non-linear settings in: Analysis settings

Linearity Straight
Releases
Fixity end 1,

end 2

  • Pinned
Torsional load release end 1,

end 2

Check one end only to define a torsional release.
Vertical load release end 1,

end 2

A vertical load release can be applied to the end of a V or A type brace pair so that they don’t prop other members against gravity loads, (you are prevented from releasing single braces, or other brace pairs in this way).
Include force in eccentricity moment end 1,

end 2

Eccentricity moments in steel and precast columns as a result of beam connection eccentricities do not also consider the brace connection eccentricities unless this property is checked for the appropriate end of the brace.
  • When checked ON the brace axial force is resolved into a vertical force, multiplied by the connection eccentricity, to obtain a connection eccentricity moment.
  • When checked OFF the brace axial force does not contribute to the total connection eccentricity moment.
Wind loading
Apply open structure wind load

Select this option if you want open structure wind loads to be calculated.

See: Open structure wind loads

Shape factor, Cf The default shape factor varies according to the entity type and is taken from Model Settings > Loading > Wind Loading

Default Cf factors are taken from the document ‘Wind Loads For Petrochemical And Other Industrial Facilities’ published by ASCE.

Effective area XY
Formula The default effective area formula varies according to the entity type and is taken from Model Settings > Loading > Wind Loading
Factor The factor used in the above formula can be edited if required.
Effective area XZ
Formula The default effective area formula varies according to the entity type and is taken from Model Settings > Loading > Wind Loading
Factor The factor used in the above formula can be edited if required.
Live (Imposed) Load Reduction

KLL

[Only displayed for Regional Code ACI/AISC]

Specify the KLL factor in accordance with Table 4-2 in ASCE 7-05/ASCE 7-10.

See: Overview of live or imposed load reductions

Reduce imposed loads by

[Displayed for Codes other than ACI/AISC]

This property is particularly applicable to the design of transfer beams.

Although the percentage of imposed load reduction is not determined automatically for beams, this property allows you to specify the percentage manually.

It can be applied to all, or individual spans.
  • reducible loadcases are reduced
  • combinations incorporating reducible loadcases are reduced

The reduced results are used in concrete beam design.

See: Overview of live or imposed load reductions

Compression

Effectve length factor y-y,

z-z

Tension
Net area Specified as an effective net area or a percentage value.
Size constraints
Max depth,

Min depth,

Max width,

Min width

Size Constraints are only applicable when Autodesign is checked. They allow you to ensure that the sections that Tekla Structural Designer proposes match any particular size constraints you may have. For instance for a composite beam you may want to ensure a minimum flange width of 150mm (6in). If so you would simply enter this value as the Minimum width, and Tekla Structural Designer would not consider sections with flanges less than this width for the design of this beam.

See: Size constraints

Apply max span/depth ratio

Max span/depth ratio

After setting a max span/depth ratio you can check the 'Apply' button for it to be considered by auto-design. During design, only sections which satisfy the maximum ratio limit will be selected.

The setting can also be reviewed and/ or copied via Review View > Show/Alter State.

See: Size constraints

Seismic
In a seismic force resisting system

If this is the case, select the checkbox, and then specify the SFRS direction and type.

Note: Design of members in seismic force resisting systems is only supported for the ACI/AISC Regional Code in the current release.
End 1 / End 2

[Only displayed for ACI/AISC regional code]

Apply SidePlate connection

Select to apply a side plate connection at the specified end(s).

Utilization ratio
Apply (to autodesign)

Selected - When an Autodesign is performed, the design will be incremented to achieve a utilization ratio less than the ratio limit.

Unselected - When an Autodesign is performed, the design will be incremented to achieve a utilization ratio less than 1.0.

See: Apply user defined utilization ratios

Apply (to check)

Selected - When a Check is performed, the check will pass provided the utilization ratio is less than the ratio limit.

Unselected - When a Check is performed, the check will pass provided the utilization ratio is less than 1.0.

Ratio limit The utilization ratio against which the autodesign or check is performed (when applied above).
Fire proofing
Protected When members are set as 'Protected', self-weight of the members is increased by the weight of fireproofing.

See: Fire proofing

Exposure Exposed on all sides
UDA

Name

Finish

Class

Phase

Note

File

A customizable list of the attributes that can be applied to individual members and panels.

See: Work with user-defined attributes

Timber brace properties

Property Description
General
Name The automatically generated name.
User Name Can be used to override the automatically generated name if required.
Group The name of the group to which the member belongs.

See: Timber member design groups

Plane Indicates the level or frame within which the member is placed.
Characteristic Brace
Active Clearing this option makes braces inactive in the analysis.

See: Inactive members

Element type Beam
Material type Timber

Construction

The available construction options depend on the characteristic and material type selected, see Member characteristic, construction and fabrication properties

Fabrication

The available fabrication options depend on the characteristic and material type selected, see Member characteristic, construction and fabrication properties

Rotation

Rotation of the member about its local x axis.

The default (Degrees0) aligns the major properties with the global Z axis, (provided that the member has not been specifically defined within an incline plane).

Alignment
Global offset end 1,

end 2

Can be used to model a physical offset with respect to the global axes at one or both ends of the member, (exceptions apply).

See: Member global offsets

Major snap level,

Minor snap level

Defines the major and minor alignment of the member relative to the insertion point.
Major offset,

Minor offset

Used to offset the member from the snap point in the major and minor axis.
Property Description
Span
Section The section size

Grade

Timber grade
Compression only,

Tension only

Specify if the brace is compression only, or tension only.
Note: Tension only and Compression only members are non-linear elements and therefore require non-linear analysis. If linear analysis is performed they will be treated as linear elements
Relaxation factor

[Only displayed if the brace is tension only]

Default 0.0.

Any value entered is not used unless you also check the ‘Use relaxation factors for tension only elements’ box in Analysis Options.

Note: It is highly unlikely that you would ever need to set a specific release factor for an individual brace.

See 1st order non-linear settings in: Analysis settings

Linearity Straight
Releases
Fixity end 1,

end 2

Pinned
Torsional load release end 1,

end 2

Check one end only to define a torsional release.
Vertical load release end 1,

end 2

A vertical load release can be applied to the end of a V or A type brace pair so that they don’t prop other members against gravity loads, (you are prevented from releasing single braces, or other brace pairs in this way).
Wind loading
Apply open structure wind load

Select this option if you want open structure wind loads to be calculated.

See: Open structure wind loads

Shape factor, Cf The default shape factor varies according to the entity type and is taken from Model Settings > Loading > Wind Loading

Default Cf factors are taken from the document ‘Wind Loads For Petrochemical And Other Industrial Facilities’ published by ASCE.

Effective area XY
Formula The default effective area formula varies according to the entity type and is taken from Model Settings > Loading > Wind Loading
Factor The factor used in the above formula can be edited if required.
Effective area XZ
Formula The default effective area formula varies according to the entity type and is taken from Model Settings > Loading > Wind Loading
Factor The factor used in the above formula can be edited if required.
Live (Imposed) Load Reduction

KLL

[Only displayed for Regional Code ACI/AISC]

Specify the KLL factor in accordance with Table 4-2 in ASCE 7-05/ASCE 7-10.

See: Overview of live or imposed load reductions

Reduce imposed loads by

[Displayed for Codes other than ACI/AISC]

This property is particularly applicable to the design of transfer beams.

Although the percentage of imposed load reduction is not determined automatically for beams, this property allows you to specify the percentage manually.

It can be applied to all, or individual spans.
  • reducible loadcases are reduced
  • combinations incorporating reducible loadcases are reduced

The reduced results are used in concrete beam design.

See: Overview of live or imposed load reductions

Fire proofing
Protected When members are set as 'Protected', self-weight of the members is increased by the weight of fireproofing.

See: Fire proofing

Exposure Exposed on all sides
UDA

Name

Finish

Class

Phase

Note

File

A customizable list of the attributes that can be applied to individual members and panels.

See: Work with user-defined attributes

General brace properties

Property Description
General
Name The automatically generated name.
User Name Can be used to override the automatically generated name if required.
Group The name of the group to which the member belongs.

See: Timber member design groups

Plane Indicates the level or frame within which the member is placed.
Characteristic Brace
Active Clearing this option makes braces inactive in the analysis.

See: Inactive members

Element type Beam
Material type Timber

Construction

The available construction options depend on the characteristic and material type selected, see Member characteristic, construction and fabrication properties

Rotation

Rotation of the member about its local x axis.

The default (Degrees0) aligns the major properties with the global Z axis, (provided that the member has not been specifically defined within an incline plane).

Property Description
Span
Section The section size

Grade

The general material grade
Compression only,

Tension only

Specify if the brace is compression only, or tension only.
Note: Tension only and Compression only members are non-linear elements and therefore require non-linear analysis. If linear analysis is performed they will be treated as linear elements
Relaxation factor

[Only displayed if the brace is tension only]

Default 0.0.

Any value entered is not used unless you also check the ‘Use relaxation factors for tension only elements’ box in Analysis Options.

Note: It is highly unlikely that you would ever need to set a specific release factor for an individual brace.

See 1st order non-linear settings in: Analysis settings

Linearity Straight
Alignment
Global offset end 1,

end 2

Can be used to model a physical offset with respect to the global axes at one or both ends of the member, (exceptions apply).

See: Member global offsets

Major snap level,

Minor snap level

Defines the major and minor alignment of the member relative to the insertion point.
Major offset,

Minor offset

Used to offset the member from the snap point in the major and minor axis.
Releases
Fixity end 1,

end 2

Pinned
Torsional load release end 1,

end 2

Check one end only to define a torsional release.
Vertical load release end 1,

end 2

A vertical load release can be applied to the end of a V or A type brace pair so that they don’t prop other members against gravity loads, (you are prevented from releasing single braces, or other brace pairs in this way).
Wind loading
Apply open structure wind load

Select this option if you want open structure wind loads to be calculated.

See: Open structure wind loads

Shape factor, Cf The default shape factor varies according to the entity type and is taken from Model Settings > Loading > Wind Loading

Default Cf factors are taken from the document ‘Wind Loads For Petrochemical And Other Industrial Facilities’ published by ASCE.

Effective area XY
Formula The default effective area formula varies according to the entity type and is taken from Model Settings > Loading > Wind Loading
Factor The factor used in the above formula can be edited if required.
Effective area XZ
Formula The default effective area formula varies according to the entity type and is taken from Model Settings > Loading > Wind Loading
Factor The factor used in the above formula can be edited if required.
Live (Imposed) Load Reduction

KLL

[Only displayed for Regional Code ACI/AISC]

Specify the KLL factor in accordance with Table 4-2 in ASCE 7-05/ASCE 7-10.

See: Overview of live or imposed load reductions

Reduce imposed loads by

[Displayed for Codes other than ACI/AISC]

This property is particularly applicable to the design of transfer beams.

Although the percentage of imposed load reduction is not determined automatically for beams, this property allows you to specify the percentage manually.

It can be applied to all, or individual spans.
  • reducible loadcases are reduced
  • combinations incorporating reducible loadcases are reduced

The reduced results are used in concrete beam design.

See: Overview of live or imposed load reductions

Fire proofing
Protected When members are set as 'Protected', self-weight of the members is increased by the weight of fireproofing.

See: Fire proofing

Exposure Exposed on all sides
UDA

Name

Finish

Class

Phase

Note

File

A customizable list of the attributes that can be applied to individual members and panels.

See: Work with user-defined attributes

Cold formed brace properties

Property Description
General
Name The automatically generated name.
User Name Can be used to override the automatically generated name if required.
Group The name of the group to which the member belongs.

See: Steel member design groups

Plane Indicates the level or frame within which the member is placed.
Characteristic Brace
Active Clearing this option makes braces inactive in the analysis.

See: Inactive members

Element type Beam
Material type Cold formed

Construction

The available construction options depend on the characteristic and material type selected, see Member characteristic, construction and fabrication properties

Fabrication

The available fabrication options depend on the characteristic and material type selected, see Member characteristic, construction and fabrication properties
Autodesign

See: Steel member autodesign

Design section order

[Only displayed when 'Autodesign' is selected]

The design order file from which a section size will be selected.

For details of managing order files, see: Manage design section orders

Rotation

Rotation of the member about its local x axis.

The default (Degrees0) aligns the major properties with the global Z axis, (provided that the member has not been specifically defined within an incline plane).

Alignment
Global offset end 1,

end 2

Can be used to model a physical offset with respect to the global axes at one or both ends of the member, (exceptions apply).

See: Member global offsets

Major snap level,

Minor snap level

Defines the major and minor alignment of the member relative to the insertion point.
Major offset,

Minor offset

Used to offset the member from the snap point in the major and minor axis.
Property Description
Span
Section The section size
Geometry (automatic design)

[Only displayed if Autodesign is selected]

The cross section type to be designed

Grade

Cold formed grade
Connection
  • Bolted
  • Welded
Compression only,

Tension only

Specify if the brace is compression only, or tension only.
Note: Tension only and Compression only members are non-linear elements and therefore require non-linear analysis. If linear analysis is performed they will be treated as linear elements
Relaxation factor

[Only displayed if the brace is tension only]

Default 0.0.

Any value entered is not used unless you also check the ‘Use relaxation factors for tension only elements’ box in Analysis Options.

Note: It is highly unlikely that you would ever need to set a specific release factor for an individual brace.

See 1st order non-linear settings in: Analysis settings

Linearity Straight
Releases
Fixity end 1,

end 2

Pinned
Torsional load release end 1,

end 2

Check one end only to define a torsional release.
Vertical load release end 1,

end 2

A vertical load release can be applied to the end of a V or A type brace pair so that they don’t prop other members against gravity loads, (you are prevented from releasing single braces, or other brace pairs in this way).
Include force in eccentricity moment end 1,

end 2

Eccentricity moments in steel and precast columns as a result of beam connection eccentricities do not also consider the brace connection eccentricities unless this property is checked for the appropriate end of the brace.
  • When checked ON the brace axial force is resolved into a vertical force, multiplied by the connection eccentricity, to obtain a connection eccentricity moment.
  • When checked OFF the brace axial force does not contribute to the total connection eccentricity moment.
Wind loading
Apply open structure wind load

Select this option if you want open structure wind loads to be calculated.

See: Open structure wind loads

Shape factor, Cf The default shape factor varies according to the entity type and is taken from Model Settings > Loading > Wind Loading

Default Cf factors are taken from the document ‘Wind Loads For Petrochemical And Other Industrial Facilities’ published by ASCE.

Effective area XY
Formula The default effective area formula varies according to the entity type and is taken from Model Settings > Loading > Wind Loading
Factor The factor used in the above formula can be edited if required.
Effective area XZ
Formula The default effective area formula varies according to the entity type and is taken from Model Settings > Loading > Wind Loading
Factor The factor used in the above formula can be edited if required.
Live (Imposed) Load Reduction

KLL

[Only displayed for Regional Code ACI/AISC]

Specify the KLL factor in accordance with Table 4-2 in ASCE 7-05/ASCE 7-10.

See: Overview of live or imposed load reductions

Reduce imposed loads by

[Displayed for Codes other than ACI/AISC]

This property is particularly applicable to the design of transfer beams.

Although the percentage of imposed load reduction is not determined automatically for beams, this property allows you to specify the percentage manually.

It can be applied to all, or individual spans.
  • reducible loadcases are reduced
  • combinations incorporating reducible loadcases are reduced

The reduced results are used in concrete beam design.

See: Overview of live or imposed load reductions

Compression

Effectve length factor y-y,

z-z

Tension
Net area Specified as an effective net area or a percentage value.
Size constraints
Max depth,

Min depth,

Max width,

Min width

Size Constraints are only applicable when Autodesign is checked. They allow you to ensure that the sections that Tekla Structural Designer proposes match any particular size constraints you may have. For instance for a composite beam you may want to ensure a minimum flange width of 150mm (6in). If so you would simply enter this value as the Minimum width, and Tekla Structural Designer would not consider sections with flanges less than this width for the design of this beam.

See: Size constraints

Apply max span/depth ratio

Max span/depth ratio

After setting a max span/depth ratio you can check the 'Apply' button for it to be considered by auto-design. During design, only sections which satisfy the maximum ratio limit will be selected.

The setting can also be reviewed and/ or copied via Review View > Show/Alter State.

See: Size constraints

Seismic
In a seismic force resisting system

If this is the case, select the checkbox, and then specify the SFRS direction and type.

Note: Design of members in seismic force resisting systems is only supported for the ACI/AISC Regional Code in the current release.
End 1 / End 2

[Only displayed for ACI/AISC regional code]

Apply SidePlate connection

Select to apply a side plate connection at the specified end(s).

Utilization ratio
Apply (to autodesign)

Selected - When an Autodesign is performed, the design will be incremented to achieve a utilization ratio less than the ratio limit.

Unselected - When an Autodesign is performed, the design will be incremented to achieve a utilization ratio less than 1.0.

See: Apply user defined utilization ratios

Apply (to check)

Selected - When a Check is performed, the check will pass provided the utilization ratio is less than the ratio limit.

Unselected - When a Check is performed, the check will pass provided the utilization ratio is less than 1.0.

Ratio limit The utilization ratio against which the autodesign or check is performed (when applied above).
Fire proofing
Protected When members are set as 'Protected', self-weight of the members is increased by the weight of fireproofing.

See: Fire proofing

Exposure Exposed on all sides
UDA

Name

Finish

Class

Phase

Note

File

A customizable list of the attributes that can be applied to individual members and panels.

See: Work with user-defined attributes

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