Chevron Bracing Design

Chevron braces are a com-mon configuration forproviding lateral-load re-sistance in steel-framedbuildings. This handy

chart will help you quickly estimate thebrace size and connection material re-quired for a given force in chevronbracing designed to resist lateral forcesdue to gravity, wind and low-seismicloads.1 These rules of thumb don’tcover all situations, but they will pro-vide a reasonable starting point for thepreliminary brace and connection de-sign or cost estimating.

Estimated brace sizes, gusset platethicknesses, and required number ofbolts or size and length of the welds aretabulated for a practical range of unfac-

tored brace forces (tensile and compres-sive). The bolts and welds indicatedare for the connection of the brace tothe gusset plate. A 3” center-to-centerbolt spacing and a 11/2” edge distancewere assumed in the connection de-sign. Suggested details for the variousconnections involved in chevron brac-ing are also included for each of thebracing types: HSS, W-shapes, WT-shapes and double angles.

The connection(s) of the gusset plateto the beam and/or column are not ad-dressed in the table. Also, drift controlissues must be considered separately.

The minimum length of the weldsfor the connection of the HSS to thegusset is 1.3 times the diameter of theround HSS or 1.3 times the side of the

square HSS. Rectangular HSS are notincluded. This minimum length allowsthe welds to be designed with a shearlag coefficient U = 1 in the HSS.2 Asmaller weld length may be acceptable,provided the effects of shear lag areconsidered.

Thanks to Victor Shneur, P.E., ofLejeune Steel Company in Minneapo-lis, MN, for laying the groundwork forthis feature.

Roberta (Bobbi) Marstellar is Director,Steel Solutions Center, Keith Mueller is Se-nior Engineer, Steel Solutions Center, andJason Ericksen is Solutions Center Advisor.Christopher Hewitt is Staff Engineer–Structures in AISC’s Engineering and Re-search department. Email the Steel Solu-tions Center at [email protected], or visitthem at the AISC web site, www.aisc.org.

Roberta Marstellar, Keith Mueller, Jason Ericksen and Christopher Hewitt

Estimating member sizes for

chevron bracing in low-rise

steel-framed construction is

easier than ever with this

handy design aid.

CHEVRON BRACING

SteelWise

Schematic of typical chevron brace configu-rations.The details circled are highlighted inlater figures in this article.

IN LOW-RISE BUILDINGS

`Modern Steel Construction • April 2002

April 2002 • Modern Steel Construction

30 50 75 100 150 200

PL3/8"

PL3/8"

PL1/2"

PL1/2"

PL3/4"

PL3/4"

2L5x5x5/16(21 lb/ft)

2L6x6x3/8(30 lb/ft)

2L6x6x3/8(30 lb/ft)

2L6x6x1/2(39 lb/ft)

2L8x8x1/2(53 lb/ft)

2L8x8x1/2(53 lb/ft)

3/4" Bolts / rowASTM A325

3 4 6 6 6 8

7/8" Bolts / rowASTM A325

3 4 4 6 5 6

No. of Rows 1 1 1 1 2 2

HSS5.000x0.375(18.5 lb/ft)

HSS6.000x0.312(19.0 lb/ft)

HSS6.000x0.500(29.4 lb/ft)

HSS6.875x0.500(34.1 lb/ft)

HSS8.625x0.500(43.4 lb/ft)

HSS9.625x0.500(48.8 lb/ft)

HSS5x5x1/4(16 lb/ft)






"a" (in)[See Details]

3/16 3/16 1/4 1/4 5/16 5/16

"b" (in) **[See Details]

7 8 89 (Round)

10 (Square)12 (Round)11 (Square)

13 (Round)11 (Square)

W6x20 W8x28 W8x31 W8x35 W8x48 W10x49

Web PlatesASTM A36

(2) PL 3/8"

(2) PL 3/8"

(2) PL 3/8"

(2) PL 3/8"

(2) PL 3/8"

(2) PL 3/8"

3/4" or 7/8"ASTM A325 Bolts

4 - Gusset4 - Web

4 - Gusset4 - Web

4 - Gusset4 - Web

4 - Gusset4 - Web

4 - Gusset4 - Web

4 - Gusset4 - Web

AnglesASTM A36

4 L4x4x5/16 4 L4x4x5/16 4 L4x4x5/16 4 L4x4x5/16 4 L4x4x5/16 4 L4x4x5/16

3/4" or 7/8"ASTM A325 Bolts

4 - Gusset8 - Flange






WT6x13 WT6x25 WT6x43.5 WT7x45 WT8x38.5 WT13.5x73

3/4" BoltsASTM A325

4 4 4 6 6 8

7/8" BoltsASTM A325

4 4 4 6 6 8

** Weld lengths are based on 1.3H , where H is the outside diameter of a round HSS or leg dimension of a square HSS.

Wel

d

Double AnglesASTM A36

Chevron Bracing in Low-Rise Buildings

Unfactored Loads(Kips)

Gusset PlateASTM A36

Doub

le A

ngle

s

Bol

ts

HSS

W-S

hape

W-ShapeASTM A992

WT-

Shap

e(F

lang

e C

onne

ctio

n) WT-ShapeASTM A992

Bol

tsFl

ange

Web

Round HSSASTM A500, Gr. B

Square HSSASTM A500, Gr. B

1. Low-seismic loads are those for ap-plications in which the seismic re-sponse modification factor R istaken equal to or less than 3. Struc-tural elements and connections in

such applications are designed tomeet the requirements in the AISCLoad and Resistance Factor Design(LRFD) Specification with no specialseismic detailing.

2. Kulak, Geoffrey L., and J. J. RogerCheng, 2000, “Gusset Plate Connec-tion to Round HSS Tension Mem-bers.” Engineering Journal Vol. 37No. 4 (Fourth Quarter): 133-139.

Turn page for typical details

REFERENCES

SteelWise

SUGGESTED DETAILS FOR CHEVRON BRACING

`Modern Steel Construction • April 2002

SUGGESTED DETAILS FOR CHEVRON BRACING

April 2002 • Modern Steel Construction

Documents

Chevron Bracing Design