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001775

Cisca Tjoa, PE

2023-12-05

AISC 341 Braced Frame Design in RFEM 6

The design of an Ordinary Concentrically Braced Frame (OCBF) and a Special Concentrically Braced Frame (SCBF) can be carried out in the Steel Design add-on of RFEM 6. The seismic design result according to AISC 341-16 and 341-22 is categorized into two sections: Member Requirements and Connection Requirements.

More in-depth details on the Seismic Configuration input are covered in the article KB | AISC 341 Seismic Design in RFEM 6 .

Member Requirements

The following design checks for members that are part of the seismic force-resisting system (SFRS) are available in RFEM. The sections listed refer to Seismic Provisions AISC 341-16/22 [1].

Width-to-Thickness Limitations [Section D1.1 and F1.5a]
SCBF Stability Bracing of Beams – Required Strength & Stiffness [Sections F2.4b and D1.2a.1(b)]
SCBF Stability Bracing of Beams – Maximum Spacing [Sections F2.4b and D1.2a.1(c)]
Column Required Strength [Section D1.4a]
Brace Slenderness Ratio [Section F1.5b for OCBF and F2.5b(a) for SCBF]

Width-to-Thickness Limitations for Ductility Requirements

The braces in OCBF are designated as moderately ductile members according to Section F1.5a. All members (braces, beams, columns) in SCBF are designated as highly ductile members according to Section F2.5a.

The braces in OCBF must satisfy the requirements of AISC Seismic Provisions Section D1.1 for moderately ductile members. As an exception according to Section F1.5a, braces in tension-only frames with L_c/r greater than 200 do not need to satisfy the ductility requirement. This design check is shown as EQ 1300 in RFEM (Image 1).

KB 001775 | AISC 341-16 Braced Frame Design in RFEM 6

1 Ductility Check

Note: Tension-only frames are not permitted in SCBF as per Section F2.4d.

Stability Bracing of Beams in SCBF

The requirement for stability bracing is only applicable for beams in V- and inverted V-braced frames as per Section F2.4b [1]. The required strength and stiffness of the stability bracings are listed in the Stability Bracing by Member tab under “Seismic Requirements” (Image 2). These values can be compared to the calculated available strength and stiffness when designing the bracing members that frame into the beam. There are no design check details available (only references).

2 Stability Bracing of Beams

The required strength, Pbr, is defined in Equation A-6-7 of Appendix 6 of AISC 360-16/22 [3]]:

P_{br} = 0.02 \cdot (\frac{M_{r} \cdot C_{d}}{h_{o}})

P_br	Required strength of the stability beam bracing
M_r	Required flexural strength of the beam. M_r = R_yF_yZ/α_s[AISC 341 Equation D1-1]
C_d	Double curvature factor = 1.0 [AISC 341 Section D1.2a(b)]
h_o	Distance between the flange centroid h_o = d - t_f

Stability Bracing of Beams (Required Strength)

Note: Pr is not applicable to braced frames.

The required stiffness, βbr, is defined in Equation A-6-8 of Appendix 6 of AISC 360-16/22 [3]:

β_{br} = \frac{1}{Φ} \cdot (\frac{10 \cdot M_{r} \cdot C_{d}}{L_{br} \cdot h_{o}}) (LRFD)

β_{br} = Ω \cdot (\frac{10 \cdot M_{r} \cdot C_{d}}{L_{br} \cdot h_{o}}) (ASD)

β_br	Required stiffness of the stability beam bracing
M_r	Required flexural strength of the beam
C_d	Double curvature factor = 1.0
L_br	Maximum spacing of the stability beam bracing
h_o	Distance between the flange centroid

Stability Bracing of Beams (Required Stiffness)

The maximum spacing of the stability bracing must satisfy the requirements of AISC 341-16/22 Section F2.4b, which refers to Section D1.2a.1(c):

L_{br} = \frac{0.19 \cdot r_{y} \cdot E}{R_{y} \cdot F_{y}} (AISC 341 - 16)

L_{br} = \frac{0.17 \cdot r_{y} \cdot E}{R_{y} \cdot F_{y}} (AISC 341 - 22)

L_br	Maximum spacing of the stability beam bracing
r_y	Radius of gyration about the weak axis
E	Modulus of elasticity
R_y	Ratio of the expected yield stress to the specified minimum yield stress
F_y	Specified minimum yield stress

Stability Bracing of Beams for SCBF (Maximum Spacing)

The design check for the maximum spacing is presented together with the other member requirements in the Design Ratios on Members. The braced length, Lb, is the specified effective length for lateral-torsional buckling (LTB). The design check detail is shown in EQ 2100 (Image 3).

3 Design Check Details

Column Required Strength

All columns that are part of the seismic force-resisting system (SFRS) are required to be designed with overstrength loads. In many cases, the amplified axial force does not need to be combined with the concurrent bending moments. The option to neglect all bending moments, shear, and torsion in columns for overstrength limit state is activated by default. This option can be deactivated in the Seismic Configuration.

For standard load combinations without overstrength from seismic load effect, the combined loading is checked according to AISC 360-16/22 Chapter H.

For load combinations with overstrength seismic load, Chapter H is not applied when the option to neglect all bending moments, shear, and torsion in columns for overstrength limit state is activated. Example 4.3.2 of the Seismic Design Manual [2] demonstrates the design using the controlling case from both load combinations, standard and overstrength.

Bending moments resulting from a load applied between points of lateral support can contribute to column buckling. Therefore, they are required to be considered concurrently with the axial loads by deactivating the option to neglect the moments (Image 4).

4 Column Required Strength

Brace Slenderness Ratio

For braces in V or Inverted V Frames in OCBF, the slenderness ratio L_c/r must be less than or equal to 4*√(E/F_y) according to Section F1.5b [1]. The intent is to limit the unbalanced forces that develop in framing members after brace buckling. This design check is shown as EQ 3300 in RFEM (Image 5).

For braces in X-configuration, the option to meet this requirement can be deactivated in the Seismic Configuration.

5 OCBF Brace Slenderness Check

For braces in SCBF, the slenderness ratio L_c/r must be less than or equal to 200, according to Section F2.5b(a) [1]. This design check is shown as EQ 3310 in RFEM (Image 6).

6 SCBF Brace Slenderness Check

Connection Requirements

The Seismic Requirements include the Required Connection Tensile Strength and the Required Connection Compressive Strength of the brace. They are listed in the Brace Connection by Member tab (Image 7). The design check details are not available for the connection strengths. However, the equations and standard references are listed in the table.

7 Brace Connection by Member

The symbols and definitions are shown in the following formulas:

R_{y} \cdot F_{y} \cdot A_{g} / α_{s}

R_y	Ratio of expected yield stress to the specified minimum yield stress
F_y	Specified minimum yield stress
A_g	Gross area of brace
α_s	LRFD-ASD force level adjustment factor = 1.0 for LRFD and 1.5 for ASD

Required Brace Connection Tensile Strength (OCBF & SCBF)

1.1 \cdot F_{cre} \cdot A_{g} / α_{s} for OCBF (341 - 16)

1.14 \cdot F_{cre} \cdot A_{g} / α_{s} for SCBF (341 - 16 & 341 - 22)

F_{ne} \cdot A_{g} / α_{s} for OCBF (341 - 22)

F_cre	Critical buckling stress from section E of AISC 360-16 using expected yield stress, R_yF_y
A_g	Gross area of brace
α_s	LRFD-ASD force level adjustment factor = 1.0 for LRFD and 1.5 for ASD
F_ne	Nominal stress from section E of AISC 360-22 using expected yield stress, R_yF_y

Required Brace Connection Compressive Strength

Note: The capacity-limited design based on the expected braced strengths will be available in the future release.

Knowledge Base

KB 001775 | AISC 341 Braced Frame Design in RFEM 6

Author

Cisca is responsible for customer technical support and continued program development for the North American market.

Links

KB | AISC 341 Seismic Design in RFEM 6

References

American Institute of Steel Construction. (2016). AISC 341-16, Seismic Provisions for Structural Steel Buildings. Chicago: AISC.
American Institute of Steel Construction. (2018). Seismic Design Manual, (3rd ed.). Chicago: AISC.
American Institute of Steel Construction. (2016) Specification for Structural Steel Buildings, ANSI/AISC 360-16. Chicago: AISC.
American Institute of Steel Construction (2022). Seismic Provisions for Structural Steel Buildings, AISC 341-22. Chicago: AISC.
American Institute of Steel Construction (2022). Specification for Structural Steel Buildings, ANSI/AISC 360-22. Chicago: AISC.

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