Braces can be assigned as Buckling Restrained in RAM Frame Analysis mode (refer to the RAM Frame manual for details). If a brace is assigned as a BRB then the axial capacity of the brace member assigned is always considered as the plastic capacity of the section adjusted by appropriate strength modifiers (φ or Ω ); the compressive strength is considered equal to the tensile strength for the design of the brace. The output will indicate that the brace is designated as a Buckling Restrained brace.

Braces not originally designated as BRBs are automatically handled as BRBs when a Star Seismic^® or CoreBrace^® BRB size is assigned. When the size is cleared through a re-assignment of a size that is not a BRB, the BRB designation is lost. Braces originally designated as BRBs do not lose the BRB designation even when an assigned Star Seismic or CoreBrace size is cleared.