Braced Frame with Single Diagonal Braces

[MCurry]

Hello. I tried posting this question on the
"other topics" forum, but got no response. I just spotted this structural steel forum so I thought I'd give it another try.

I'm designing a four story steel framed building. Code is the IBC 2003. There will be a couple of concrete stair towers and a concrete elevator tower near the center of the building. I't basically rectangular, about 135 feet x 90 feet.

The floors are concrete, so I've modelled them as rigid diaphragms. I've placed a single braced frame at each of the four sides of the building. The concrete towers (no surprise here) attract most of the lateral load (seismic governs over wind). The braced frames attract relatively little load, and seem to basically resist the loads generated from rigid diaphragm torsion.

My question is about the braced frames. Can I use a single brace at each level of each frame as both a compression and tension member? I've used an "Ordinary Concentric Braced Frame" R factor in developing my seismic forces, and I can't find any code limitations that would prevent me from doing this.

Thanks

 

[Ussuri]

Suggest you post in the Structural Engineering Forum (Forum 507)

http://www.eng-tips.com/threadminder.cfm?pid=507

 

[MCurry]

Alright. thank you.

 

[unclesyd]

Ussuri,
An easy way to make the link: forum507