Selecting the Criteria -Sidesway command will cause the Column Sidesway dialog box to appear. This dialog box is used to specify globally (for the entire structure) if the columns are braced or unbraced against sidesway (sway or non-sway columns). The third option, "partially braced", refers to the case where a structure is braced against sidesway in only one direction e.g., a moment frame in the x-direction and a shear wall in the y-direction. An example of a partially braced setting is provided below. Note that this criterion is not utilized unless the user has selected to consider column slenderness in the Criteria-Analysis dialog box (see Section 2.5.2). The side sway affects the column slenderness calculation determining if the column is a sway (unbraced)) column (ACI 10.13, BS8110 3.8.1.6.1, EN1992 5.8.3.2 (3)) or a non-sway (braced) column (ACI 10.12, BS8110 3.8.1.6.1, AS3600 10.1.3.1, EN1992 5.8.3.2 (3)).

Clicking OK will save the Sidesway setting. Modifying the Sidesway criteria after an analysis or code check has been performed will invalidate the results of that analysis and/or code check.

Clicking Cancel will close the dialog without changing the Sidesway criteria.

The engineer can also assign sidesway on a member-by-member basis, overriding the global criteria, using the Assign-Column-Sidesway command.

Example Partially Braced Columns

A "partially braced" structure is one that is braced against sidesway in only one direction.

To consider ONLY the columns in the Global X OR Global Y directions as being braced against sidesway:

Select the Partially Braced option button.
Check Global X +/- check box OR the Global Y +/- check box.
Accept "0" as the number of degrees in the Degrees box.

To include frame columns which are rotated off the Global X OR Global Y axes as being braced against sidesway:

1. Select the Partially Braced option button.

   Check Global X +/- check box OR the Global Y +/- check box.
   Enter the appropriate angle in the Degrees box.

   Note: The degrees angle refers to the angle between the global axis indicated and the lateral member's local major-axis.

For example: To consider Column A (see Figure below) to be braced against sidesway in its major axis, and B in its minor axis:

1. Select Partially Braced
2. Check Global X +/-
3. Enter 20 in the Degrees box.

Notice that the 20 degrees refers to the angle between the global axis and the local major or minor axes of the columns. This will result in Column A being braced against sidesway in the major axis and Column B in the minor axis.