Generic Buckling Restrained Braces

Any shape can be assigned to a brace that has been designated as a buckling restrained brace; the only pertinent property is the area. Flat bars are convenient because the area is obvious.

Assign the shapes to the braces in Elevation View in the Modeler using the Layout > Braces > Assign Size command or in RAM Frame using the Assign > Braces > Size command.
In RAM Frame, designate each brace as a Buckling Restrained Brace using the Assign > Braces > Buckling Restrained – Generic command. Assign the appropriate Axial Stiffness Multiplier as described in Axial Stiffness Modifier or, more appropriately, as provided by the brace manufacturer.

These braces can then be analyzed using the Process > Analyze command and designed in Steel Standard Provisions mode using the Process – Member Code Check command or View/Update command, as is normally done for frame analysis and design.

In the Steel – Standard Provisions mode, verify that neither slenderness limit option is selected in the Criteria > Axial Slenderness Limits command. This check is not relevant to buckling restrained braces.

In addition to the standard provisions of the steel specification, there are additional seismic requirements per AISC 341, but those provisions are not currently checked by the program for generic Buckling Restrained Braces. The engineer should perform these checks independently.