PLAN &

ELEVATION
BRACES
 TABLE OF CONTENTS

1 WHAT IS BRACE? 2 TYPES OF BRACE

AISC THUMB CLIENT

3 4 STANDARDS
RULES

TAKE CARE WHEN

5
DETAILING
 BRACES
A diagonal member placed between panel
points in a frame of other members to
make a structure more rigid.

It helps to resist lateral wind loads and

mechanical loads.

It can be flat bars, rods, single or double

angle, single or double channels, W
section, split Tee, round and rectangular
HSS.
Classification according to usage situation

TEMPORARY BRACES PERMANENT BRACES

Placed before plumbing up structural frame. Remain there in the place itself.
Gives temporary lateral stability. Designed to withstand permanent loading
Removed after final bolt up is complete. on the building
Classification according to loading direction

VERTICAL BRACES HORIZONTAL BRACES

Required along the column line Required along each floor
VERTICAL BRACE
It is a vertically inclined member.

It transfer tension and compression to

primary members.

Provide load path to transfer horizontal

force to ground level.

Its elevation varies from end to end.

The vertical brace also used as in the align

tool to keep the building square.
Different types of Bracing
 X-brace
▪ Most common type.
▪ Connections are located at beam to
column joints.
▪ Requires relatively large gusset
plate at beam to column joints.
 Chevron Brace
▪ Members used are designed for
both tension and compression.
▪ It allows for doorways and
corridors through bracing line in a
structure.
▪ Bracing members are connected to
beams/ girders at the top and
converge to a common point.
 Knee brace
▪ Knee braces sometimes are used to
carry the end of a beam
cantilevering out from the column
where the beam has no support at
the end hold it up.
Eccentrically Braced Frames
▪ Commonly used in seismic region.
▪ Allows for doorways and corridors
in braced bays.
▪ Bracing member end do not meet
concentrically on main member.
▪ They are separated to meet
eccentrically.
Eccentrically Braced Frames
▪ It looks similar to frames with
Chevron bracing.

▪ Difference is the space between

bracing members at top gusset
connection.
HORIZONTAL BRACE
It is a horizontally inclined member.

Horizontal bracing lies in the same plane

as the roof framing to which it is field
connected.

The horizontal bracing is dropped to the

level of the top of the steel.

It is connected to the members by means

of gusset plates and angles. The
connecting material of the bracing will
not interfere with or protrude into the
floor or roof deck.
HORIZONTAL BRACE
Provide a load path for horizontal force to
plane of vertical bracing.

Horizontal braces are also used as

alignment tools to ensure the structure
remains square, preventing the base from
becoming a parallelogram
 THUMB RULES-VERTICAL BRACE
WORKPOINT LOCATION
Workpoints are established at the intersection of work lines to minimize or eliminate
eccentric loading.

It's common practice, whenever vertical bracing is framing to the gusset plate on the
end of the beam, tying to a column, to locate the workpoint in this manner.

The workpoint will be set at the centerline of the column where it intersects the point
halfway down from the top of the beam, based on half of the nominal depth
(for ex:W18X38 nominal depth=9)
 THUMB RULES-VERTICAL BRACE
DRAW
A long single cross-bracing member, being flexible, easily vibrates and deflects. To
counter this, the angles are typically fabricated with slightly reduced dimensions
compared to the calculated or theoretical values.

This principle doesn't apply to diagonal bracing members other than light angles
because stretching the members is difficult.
For length upto 10’ No reduction

For length upto 10’-20’ Deduct 1/16”

For length upto 20’-35’ Deduct 1/8”

For length over 35’ Deduct 3/16”

The piece is erected by fully bolting one end, and tapered drift pins are used to align the
holes for completing the bolting process
 THUMB RULES-VERTICAL BRACE
MINIMUM LOAD FOR CONNECTION
In accordance with the LRFD-AISC manual, connections must be designed for a
minimum load of 10 kips. In normal practice for tension-only bracing, the strength of
the member in compression may be neglected.

X BRACING CONNECTING PLATE

When two braces intersect in the field, a gap between the two members must be
filled with a plate. This plate should have the same thickness as the gusset plate.

The plate is tack welded to the near side of the brace. This tack weld is only necessary
to secure the plate in position until the two vertical braces are field-bolted together.
 THUMB RULES-VERTICAL BRACE
STITCH PLATE
When double-angle bracing members are separated, as in a sandwich end connection
to the gusset, and the member length exceeds specified limits, intermediate support
must be provided by a stitch plate. The stitch plate may be made from either shop-
bolted or welded material.

The thickness of the stitch plate should match that of the gusset plate.
 THUMB RULES-VERTICAL BRACES
Entering and tightening clearance
Based on the bolt head, there must be sufficient clearance provided for entering and
tightening.
 THUMB RULES-HORIZONTAL BRACES
MINIMUM LOAD FOR CONNECTION
In accordance with the LRFD-AISC manual, connections must be designed for a
minimum load of 10 kips. In normal practice for tension-only bracing, the strength of
the member in compression may be neglected.

CLEARANCE REQUIRED
If the bracing member were located at or near the top of the steel elevation, where
the angle leg might interfere with the beam flange, ½” clearance would be necessary.

A minimum clearance of 5 7/8” is required to ensure that the socket of an impact

wrench has sufficient space to clear the beam, allowing it to enter and tighten the
field bolts for the brace when connecting to the gusset plate on the beam web.
THUMB RULES-HORIZONTAL BRACES
CLEARANCE REQUIRED
 THUMB RULES-HORIZONTAL BRACES
MINIMUM CUT OUT DIMENSION FOR GUSSET PLATE
Minimum cut out dimension=clear the column flanges(1/2 of column depth)+beam to
column clip angle(OSL leg length)+1/2 minimum

MINIMUM CLIP ANGLE DIMENSION POSITIONED

AWAY FROM WORK POINT
Minimum =clear the column flanges(1/2 of column depth)+beam to column clip
angle(OSL leg length)+angle weld clearance + 1/2 minimum plate edge + welding
clearance for clip angle + min edge distance for first hole
THUMB RULES-HORIZONTAL BRACES
MINIMUM CUT OUT DIMENSION FOR GUSSET PLATE
THUMB RULES-HORIZONTAL BRACES
MINIMUM CLIP ANGLE DIMENSION POSITIONED
AWAY FROM WORK POINT
 THUMB RULES-HORIZONTAL BRACES
WHITMORE SECTION
When connecting elements are large compared to their joints, Whitmore section may
limit areas to less than full. Width (lw) determined by spreading force at joint's end,
30 degrees each side. Whitmore can extend across joints but not beyond
unconnected edges.
 Clint standars-TSF
Use loads given on design For three-piece cross For bracing plate
drawings for number of bracing, the center plate connections, vertical or
bolts on bracing. If loads are must be shop bolted to the horizontal, give the
not given use half the brace. dimension from the work
allowable load. point to the first hole. Show
When using staggered holes the same dimension on the
Bracing clearance should be in bracing, keep the diagonal bracing detail.
¾” to the nearest point spacing at 3”.
unless noted otherwise. For three-piece cross
Keep vertical bracing outside bracing, the center plate
Bracing gusset plates should the column flanges when must be shop bolted to the
be connected at two points, framing to the web of the brace.
including column base column.
plates.
 Clint standars-TSF
When using staggered holes in bracing, When braces are galvanized and capped,
keep the diagonal spacing at 3”. follow TSF standard for cap thickness and
hole size.
For vertical braces use the beam’s nominal
depth for the work point. When detailing horizontal and vertical
braces, provide a top view detail to show
When pipe or tube braces are capped, offsets, double material, etc.
undersize the plates so fillet welds can be
used. Try to avoid bevel or square groove
welds unless required.
 Clint standars-MERRIL
Horizontal Braces are to be detailed in Vertical braces are to be detailed in the flat
the flat position on the shop drawing position on the shop drawing. The main view
with the main view being a plan view of shall match the view of the vertical brace on
the brace. Additional views are to be the erection drawing. Additional views are to
added to convey all material orientation be added to clearly convey all material
to the shop. orientation and placement to the shop.
 Clint standars-ENDRES
When the rod braces have longer span, the Should not use clevis pin grade as A325. A307
gussets can be retained at center and the rod would be ok.
can cross over each other. It will be able to
manage the brace clash adjusting the Don’t want to specify thread information of Clevis
turnbuckles. in drawing but piece-marking should be done
correct in our model based on threading.
In the case of rod braces having shorter span,
gusset need to be offset from center. Refer Endres prefers A325 bolt with nut instead of clevis
below pictures. pin for rod braces. Some conditions Arch prefers
pin, which we have to clarify with client

We need to detail the rod braces as single

member, where the rod, clevis and turnbuckle
are part of a complete member and not
different piece marks for each item. Please see
below snap for more clarity.
Clint standars-ENDRES
 TAKE CARE WHILE DETAILING THE BRACE
Find the member which you are going to check in model and locate the member in design drawing with
respect to the grid location.

Check whether section size and elevations are correct in model, drawing as per design drawing plan.

Check work points are correct to intersecting points of brace line and connecting Beam/Truss/Column.

Check for proper main view for sloped horizontal braces.

Check quantity, Description and member mark is provided per client standard.

Check for all sub material piece marks provided in appropriate locations (Full profile at any one location
for Merrill and TSF Clients).

End loads and connection codes (if available in design drawing) provided correctly.

Leg orientation indication note below member mark in case of angle/WT brace.
 TAKE CARE WHILE DETAILING THE BRACE
Member Piece marking for different Clients (horizontal brace-H, vertical brace-V)

Merrill- seq name(OCC)drawing series(306)member type (H)order of member on the sheet(1)-

OCC306500H1

ENDRES - Sheet name(500)member type (H)order of member on the sheet(1) (Sequence will not be
indicated here) – 500H1

SFAB - Seq name(OCC306)member type(H), this will be having 1 member per sheet only so OCC306H1
will be the member mark

TSF - Last two digits of job number(08(If job number is 1508))Member type (H)sheet number (500) –
08H500
THANKS!