Major Axis Bracing
| Setting | Description |
|---|---|
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For the calculation of the axial capacity and the bending capacity, the unbraced length of the compression flange in the plane of the major-axis of a beam is determined as follows: |
A major axis brace point list is created.
Important: The following are assumed to brace both the top and the bottom flange in the plane of the major axis:
- Beam ends are assumed to be braced at a support and at a cantilever end.
- Beams are assumed to be braced at both supports.
- Beams are assumed to be braced wherever another lateral frame beam frames in (even though the beam frames into the weak axis). They are not assumed to be braced wherever gravity beams frame in.
- Beams are assumed to be braced wherever a brace frames in (such as for a chevron brace system) and wherever a frame column (but not a gravity column) from above sits on the beam (as for a transfer girder situation).
The unbraced length of the segment in the strong axis is then taken as the distance between brace points. This value is used in the calculation of both the axial capacity and the minor moment capacity.