STUDY DISTRIBUTION OF BRACE LOADS ON GUSSET PLATE EDGES CONNECTED TO H-SHAPED COLUMNS PHASE I: LITERATURE REVIEW

The load paths through braced steel frame connections are critical to the design of safe and economical braced frame structures. Accurate prediction of this loading has proven to be an analytical and experimental challenge that has not yet been met. Therefore, design of these connections has been conservative. This paper presents information that has been gathered about brace connections at beamcolumn joints in braced frames and discusses research needs that will lead to better understanding of the loads on these connections and ultimately to their safe and economical design.