CoreBrace Buckling Restrained Braces

CoreBrace brace sizes can be assigned by selecting Assign > Braces > Size. This opens the Assign Brace Size dialog that contains specific CoreBrace^® Buckling Restrained Brace (BRB) sizes.

When a CoreBrace size is assigned, the brace is automatically tagged as "buckling restrained brace". It is not necessary to explicitly designate the brace as a BRB, nor is it necessary to assign an Axial Stiffness Modifier. That is done automatically by the program.

The design criteria for CoreBrace buckling restrained braces can be defined by selecting Criteria > Buckling Restrained > CoreBrace. This is also referred to as the global setting for all CoreBrace BRBs in the model and it applies to all CoreBrace BRBs. The CoreBrace Criteria dialog contains global settings.

Is is also possible to assign specific values to specific braces, on a brace-by-brace basis, by selecting Assign > Braces > Buckling Restrained > CoreBrace.

Note: This command can be used to assign a specific Stiffness Modifier value to the brace, although it is generally not necessary since the program automatically calculates that value.

CoreBrace Buckling Restrained Brace File

The file RAMCoreBrace.cbd contains proprietary information for each CoreBrace BRB size.

Analysis with CoreBrace BRBs

Select View > Members to view what is assigned to each CoreBrace BRB for the Stiffness Modifier, whether it is a calculated value or assigned value. If the program is using a calculated value, the label have a "Calc" prefix, followed by the calculated value in parenthesis.

When the analysis is performed, the Stiffness Modifiers are applied accordingly. The Member Forces report is enhanced to include pertinent CoreBrace brace information, including the Stiffness Modifier. When the calculated value is used, it is listed. When a user-defined value has been assigned, both the calculated and user-defined values are listed, along with the ratio of the user-defined to calculated values.

In addition to the standard provisions of the steel specification, there are additional seismic requirements per AISC 341. Those provisions are checked in the RAM Frame Steel Seismic Provisions module for CoreBrace buckling restrained braces.