Advisory Desk Notes - AD 306: Additional Moments in Braced Bays: 1
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AD 306: Additional Moments in Braced Bays: 1
This is the first in a series of ADs that comment on the forces and moments to be designed for in
beam-column-bracing connections in braced frames. AD 304 pointed out that the nominal
moments that are assumed from beam eccentricity cannot be ignored, even if forces in the bracing
system have been calculated from a pin-jointed analysis. This AD covers common connection
details and offers advice on how the connections can be designed.
The first common case is where the centre lines of the members are coincident, as shown in
Figure 1.
T
V
e
CL
ac
H
Br
M = He = VD
2
Column
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Floor beam
e
sop H
CL B
Figure 1 Typical bracing type connection for simple construction
Two models are commonly adopted for the design of the connections shown in Figure 1.
In the first model, the connection to the column is designed for a moment equal to He, where e is
the vertical eccentricity from the beam centreline to the point the bracing centreline meets the
column flange. Generally, this moment is dealt with by assuming that the point of rotation is the
bottom flange of the beam. The vertical shear through the connection is the beam reaction, plus
the contribution from the component of the bracing force. If this model is adopted, the nominal
moment in the column is due only to the assumed eccentric reaction of the beam shear. There is
no contribution from the bracing force to the nominal moment in the column.
Created on 22 November 2011
An alternative model is to assume that the bracing is connected to the beam, and that the beam
end connection remains truly pinned. In this case the end connection of the beam carries no
moment, but must carry the beam shear and the vertical component of the bracing force. The
AD 306: Additional Moments in Braced Bays: 1 1
Advisory Desk Notes - AD 306: Additional Moments in Braced Bays: 1
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column must be designed for the nominal moment from the assumed eccentric beam shear, plus
an additional moment equal to V × D/2 where D is the column depth.
In Figure 2 the setting out point (sop) of the bracing has been shifted to the intersection of the
beam centre line with the column face. This is very similar to the second model described above, in
that the column must be designed for an additional moment equal to V × D/2. It is also clear from
Figure 2 that the vertical component of the bracing force adds to the shear in the beam from gravity
loads, and this must be checked. The end connection is designed as a pin, to carry the vertical
load from the bracing and the beam itself.
D T
CL
e
ac
Br
CL
V Floor beam
sop H H B H H sop
CL
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Column Column
V
M = VD
2
T
Figure 2 Bracing connections made to the beam
Created on 22 November 2011
AD 306: Additional Moments in Braced Bays: 1 2
Advisory Desk Notes - AD 306: Additional Moments in Braced Bays: 1
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D T L
V
CL H
CL CL
sop
Floor beam
CL B
Column Column
sop
HB
M=
2
M = HB HB
2 Q= Q
L
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Q
Additional beam bending
Figure 3 Bracing set out to beam/column flange intersection
In Figure 3, the common and convenient situation of shifting the sop to the junction of beam and
column flanges is shown. The main effect is the additional moment equal to V × D/2 to be included
in the column design. Additional shear and bending is produced in the beam, but this is generally
not significant. The additional shear and moment is given below.
Additional shear, Q = H × B/L
Additional bending moment, M = H × B/2
Where H is the horizontal component of the bracing force
D is the depth of the column
B is the depth of the beam
L is the span of the beam
In summary, the additional moments that arise in braced bays due to the location of the setting out
point must be added to the usual nominal moments from the beam end reactions and accounted
for in the design of the column and its splices.
Created on 22 November 2011
Contact: Thomas Cosgrove Tel: 01344 623345 Email: [Link]@[Link]
AD 306: Additional Moments in Braced Bays: 1 3