Bracing Connection Design

Bracing Connections

Bracing members often include hollow sections such as SHS, RHS or CHS. They are often designed assuming the bracing member is subject to only tension, though some include for both tension and compression. Bracing stiffens a steel frame against lateral loadings and makes sure that a simple steel frame is stable even under temporary loading conditions. They are generally formed from members running diagonally from the existing beam and column connections.

The most commonly used connection for bracing members is to attach T section to the end of the hollow bracing member and to bolt this T section to a gusset plate or similar attached to the column, beam or existing beam/column connection.

Bracing Connections Design Procedure

The CivilWeb Bracing Connection Design Spreadsheet includes two separate design sheets for the design of bracing connections for RHS and for CHS bracing members.

First the designer must input the details of the bracing section. The spreadsheet comes pre-loaded with full design and geometrical details for more than 1,000 SHS and RHS and more than 900 CHS. The spreadsheets include all standard hollow sections used in the UK and Europe including both cold formed and hot rolled section sizes.

The second step is to input the tensile forces which the connection will need to resist. The designer needs to input the partial action factors to be used for the design also. Each spreadsheet comes pre-loaded with the partial action factors set as required in BS EN 1993-1-8 though these can be altered by the designer if required to suit any alternative design standards.

Next the user can input the details of the T section, the bolts and the welds. The CivilWeb Bracing Connection Design Spreadsheet includes details for 29 different standard bolt sizes ranging from M1.6 to M64. Full geometrical details are included for these bolts though these can be amended by the user to suit any non-standard bolt type also.

After all the inputs have been completed, the spreadsheet can now complete the calculations. The calculations undertaken automatically by the spreadsheet include;

• Resistance of the Section at Welded Connection
• Tension Resistance of the T Stub Web
• Resistance of the Bolts
• Resistance of the Welds

Each result produced by the spreadsheet is presented using a utilisation factor which shows the designer exactly how much of the capacity of the connection is being used. The results are also shown in either green or red for clarity. This allows the designer to see exactly where the design is deficient or where the design can be made more economical.

The spreadsheet also creates unique design analysis charts which show the user the effects of any alterations to the main design criteria. Using these graphs the designer can see at a glance whether the design can be optimised by changing either the T stub web thickness or the bolt diameter. This saves the designer from having to complete time consuming iterative calculations in order to optimise the design. The spreadsheet also presents the user with a handy summary of the results of the design calculations at the top of the page, so they can check the results of any design alterations without scrolling up and down the page.

CivilWeb Bracing Connection Design Spreadsheet

The CivilWeb Bracing Connection Design Spreadsheet is an intuitive and easy to use spreadsheet for the design of commonly used steel bracing connections. The spreadsheet includes separate design sheets for the design of RHS and CHS bracing members in accordance with the requirements of BS EN 1993-1-8. Unique design features and instant calculations allow the designer to complete an optimised bracing connection design in minutes without any iterative calculations required.

Buy the CivilWeb Bracing Connection Design Spreadsheet now for only £19.99.