Member Add Vertical Brace

Default Shortcut: F2 >   Structural Steel > "Vertical Brace"
Adds a Vertical Brace member.
See on another page: Vertical Brace Edit window

  • Step-By-Step
  • Tips and Tricks
  • Related Tools

1 . Click the Member Add Vertical Brace icon, which is pictured above. The icon can be found on the Members page > Steel section.

Alternative: Invoke Member Add Vertical Brace using the Find Tool by searching the command name and clicking the icon, which is pictured above.

2 . The status line prompts, "Add: Vertical Brace". Various Locators become active along with Locate - Repeat - Return mouse bindings. The Member add options bar also becomes active. Select the appropriate Locate option. After adjusting the Member add options bar settings, left-click (Locate) the first point where the point location target ( ) is at.

Alternative 1: Another way to add a vertical brace is to use Repeat. For a vertical brace whose settings you want to duplicate, double-click the vertical brace and press "OK" on its edit window without changing anything. Then invoke Member Add Vertical Brace and middle-click (Repeat) to add a new vertical brace that is exactly like the double-clicked one.

Alternative 2: Right-click (Return) or press the Esc button to end the operation.

3 .The status line prompts, "Locate second point." Note that you can still make adjustments to the Member add options bar settings at this stage. Left-click (Locate) the second point where the point location target ( ) is at to finish adding the vertical brace member.

Alternative: Right-click (Return) or press the Esc button to end the operation.

4 .The status line prompts, "Add: Vertical Brace", allowing you to continue adding vertical brace members by repeating steps 2 and 3.

Alternative 1: Middle-click (Repeat) to add another vertical brace member with the exact same attributes as the previously added vertical brace.

Alternative 2: Right-click (Return) or press the Esc button to end the operation.

  • Work points for brace-to-column connections must be at the workline (center) of the column. This is not the case for brace-to-beam connections.

  • For a wide flange (or S shape) vertical brace, the "Section size" must be between W6 and W30 (S6 and S30). Where wide flange or S shape braces frame together at an X or K juncture, both braces must have the same "Web orientation".
  • For HSS/TS, wide flange, S shape, welded plate wide flange and pipe vertical braces, two work points define the neutral axis of the vertical brace's main material. For an angle vertical brace, the two work points align along the leg to gusset. It is often easier to place work points for vertical bracing while in an elevation view.
  • Another way to add a vertical brace is to use Repeat. For a vertical brace whose settings you want to duplicate, double-click its main material and press "OK" on its edit window without changing anything. Then invoke Member Add Horizontal Brace and middle-click (Repeat) to add a new vertical brace that is exactly like the double-clicked one.
  • The work points you locate define the neutral axis of a W, S, HSS round, or HSS rectangular vertical brace. For a W tee or S tee vertical brace, the workline is drawn through the top flange center line if the stem is 'Horizontal' or along the connection bolt line nearest the tee flange if the stem is 'Vertical'. For a single angle vertical brace, the workline is placed along the surface of the angle leg that attaches to the gusset per the selection made to "Locate on neutral axis". For a channel vertical brace, the workline is at the half-depth of the heel of the channel (the channel web is vertical).

  • Vertical braces can be perfectly vertical or horizontal as well as sloping.

  • Connection design can create automatic connections on vertical braces in X, K, and W configurations.

  • A brace intersection plate for X bracing can be designed for L, WT, C, and double-angle bracing. X bracing can also be achieved with a center brace that is a wide flange. Any material type can be used for a vertical brace that connects to a wide flange vertical brace.

  • Below are some examples of vertical brace connections. The type of vertical brace connection you get depends on the framing situation, which depends on how the vertical brace is added.