When the “Flange Bracing” button is clicked on the Create Design Frame Element form, the following form will appear. This form allows you to specify individual flange bracing options.
The default flange bracing provides brace points at intersecting frames and shells for all axes. This may be unconservative for many scenarios, so it is recommended that you investigate these bracing options.
This option is provided for all axes. It sets a maximum flange bracing interval. The program will assign bracing as the minimum of that determined through intersecting elements and this maximum interval.
For example, if intersecting frames occur every 10 ft, but this “Braced at Interval” option is checked, with the interval set to 8 ft, the bracing used in design will be 8 ft.
As another example, if intersecting frames occur every 6 ft, but this “Braced at Interval” option is checked, with the interval set to 8 ft, the bracing used in design will be 6 ft.
This option forces the program to use the “Braced at Interval” length regardless of other elements framing in.
For example, if intersecting frames occur every 10 ft, but the “Braced at Interval” option is checked with the interval set to 8 ft and “Override Length” is checked, , the bracing used in design will be 8 ft.
As another example, if intersecting frames occur every 6 ft, but the “Braced at Interval” option is checked with the interval set to 8 ft and “Override Length” is checked, , the bracing used in design will be 8 ft.
This braces the top flange (positive side) of the local 2-axis, preventing buckling about the local 2-axis. This means that bracing should be nominally in the direction of the 3-axis.
This braces the bottom flange (negative side) of the local 2-axis, preventing buckling about the local 2-axis. This means that bracing should be nominally in the direction of the 3-axis.
