4/1/2008

Design
g of Eccentricallyy Braced
Frames

Anindya Dutta, Ph.D., S.E.

What is an “eccentrically” braced frame?

„ In an eccentric braced frame the braces are

eccentric to the beam
beam-column
column connection
connection, ii.e.
e
they do not frame directly into the connection
„ This results in a high shear force in the
portion of the beam between the two braces
„ The resulting yielding of the beam in shear is
what that causes energy dissipation and very
ductile behavior

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Basic elements of an EBF

Beam outside link

Link
e
Column

Column
Brace

Most Common

Basic elements of an EBF

Beam outside link

Link
e
Column

Column

Brace

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AISC Design Requirements for EBF

Links
„ Links
Li k mustt bbe off compactt shape
h (i
(i.e. satisfy
ti f b/tf
and h/tw limitations of Table I-8-1
„ Web of a link shall be single thickness. No
doubler plate or web penetrations are allowed
„ Shear strength of a link is given by lesser of
Vn = φv 0.6 Fy Aw = 0.9 × 0.6 × Fy (d − 2t f )t w
Vn = φv 2M p / e = 0.9 × 2 × Z x Fy / e

AISC Design Requirements for EBF

„ However, in the presence of axial loads the

shear
h strength
t th is
i reduced.
d d Th
Thus if P
Pu > 0
0.15
15 P
Py,
shear strength is the lesser of

Vn = φv 0.6 Fy Aw 1 − (Pu / Py )
[ ]
Vn = φv 2 ×1.18M p 1 − Pu / Py / e

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AISC Design Requirements for EBF

„ The length of the link ”e” shall not exceed

[1.15 − 0.5ρ (A
'
w ]
/ Ag ) 1.6M p / V p for ρ ' (Aw / Ag ) ≥ 0.3
1.6 M p / V p for ρ ' (Aw / Ag ) < 0.3

In the above equation

ρ ' = Pu / Vu & V p = 0.6 Fy (d − 2t f )t w

AISC Design Requirements for EBF

„ Link rotation angle is the inelastic angle

between the link and the beam outside he
link and is calculated for Cd times the drift for
the code level forces
„ Link rotations shall not exceed
0.08 radians for e</= 1.6Mp/Vp
0.02 radians for e>2Mp/Vp
Use linear interpolation for intermediate

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AISC Design Requirements for EBF

Plastic Rotation Angle
∆p e
γp=∆pL/(h e))

See AISC Seimic Commentary for link rotations of other

ebf shapes

Placement of Link Stiffeners

Link Lengths 1.6Mp/Vp or less
Spacing

52tw-d/5

30tw-d/5
30tw d/5

0.02rad 0.08rad
Link Rotation

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Placement of Link Stiffeners

•Link Lengths greater than 2.6Mp/Vp but less than
5Mp/Vp shall be provided with link stiffeners at a
distance from
f 1.5bf
1 f from
f each end off link
•Link Lengths greater than 1.6Mp/Vp but less than
2.6Mp/Vp shall have link stiffeners meeting reqs.
of both above
•Links greater than 5Mp/Vp need no intermediate
stiffeners

Intermediate Link Stiffeners

•Intermediate link stiffeners shall be full depth
For link depths < 25”
•For 25 , stiffeners are ok on one
side in which case thickness of stiffeners shall not
be less than tw or 3/8” (whichever is greater)and
width shall not be less than bf/2-tw
•For link depths greater than 25”, intermediate
stiffeners are required on both sides of the web
•Fillet weld connecting stiffener to web shall
develop AstFy and weld connecting stiffener to link
flange shall develop AstFy/4

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Lateral bracing of the Link

•Lateral bracing is required at top and bottom
flanges at both ends of the link
•Required strength of thee bracing shall be equal
to

0.06 R y ZFy
Pb = .
h0

Design of Brace and Beam Outside Link

•Required combined axial and flexural strength of
the brace shall be based on load combos stipulated
by ASCE
SC 7 except ““E”” effects
ff shall be based on
actions generated by 1.25 RyVn of the link
•Required combined axial and flexural strength of
the beam outside link shall be based on load
combos stipulated by ASCE 7 except “E” effects
shall be based on actions generated by 1.1 RyVn of
the link

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Design of Columns
1.1RyVni

1.1ΣRyVni+Appropriately
factored Dead and Live

Design procedure for EBFs

•Step 1: Apply the code forces and find the shear in
each link. Add to this appropriately factored gravity
l d shear.
load h D
Denote this
hi b
by VuEi
•Step 2:Size the link such that Vni ~VuEi. Do not
oversize link since everything else from this point is
based on link capacity
•Step 3:Find Ωi = Vni/VuEi
•Step 4: Scale up all code level E forces in beam
outside link by 1.1RyΩi. Add 1.1 times gravity
component and check beam for axial and bending

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Design procedure for EBFs

•Step 4 contd: For axial capacity evaluation consider
K = 1.0
•Step 5:Scale up all code level E forces in brace
outside link by 1.25RyΩi. Add 1.25 times gravity
component and check brace for axial and bending
•Step 6:Design columns for Σ1.1RyVni plus
appropriately factored gravity loading

Computing axial loads in beam outside

link and link

20 ft 30 ft 25 ft

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Computing axial loads in beam outside link

14 ft 14 ft

300 kips

15 ft
Code forces

100 kips

15 ft

13.75 ft 13.75 ft

Computing axial loads in beam outside link

14 ft 14 ft
Flow of Forces
F1

15 ft

F2

15 ft

13.75 ft 13.75 ft

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Computing axial loads in beam outside link

20 ft 30 ft 25 ft

I
Input
t

1 139.7 k 4.11 k/ft

150 k
2
150 k
O t t
Output

139.7 k

1 2
10.3 k
160.3 k

Computing axial loads in beam outside link

20 ft 30 ft 25 ft

I
Input
t
150 k
1
150 k 100 k

200 k 1.38 k/ft

2
200 k
O t t
Output

196.5 k
1 2
3.5 k
203.5 k

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