Star SeismicTM Buckling Restrained Braces in

ETABS Integrated Building Design Software

Star Seismic buckling restrained brace (BRB) sections are now available for ETABS Integrated
Building Design Software. This feature allows the engineer to conveniently assign Star Seismic
BRB sections to braces in an ETABS model. To model, analyze and design buckling restrained
braces in ETABS using Star Seismic BRB sections, do the following:

Receive Copy of Star Seismic BRB Section Database File:

A frame section table, 'BRBStarSeismic.pro,' is now available for ETABS containing the Star
Seismic BRB sections. Contact Star Seismic to receive a copy of their BRB section database
file, 'BRBStarSeismic.pro.'

Import the Star Seismic Frame Section Table:

To import these sections go under the 'Define' menu option and select 'Frame Sections...' Click
on the drop down menu on the right that says 'Import I/Wide Flange,' scroll down and select
'Import Rectangular.' Browse to the folder where the Star Seismic BRB section table
'BRBStarSeismic.pro' is located, select this file and click 'Open.' Select the Star Seismic BRB
sections you want to import and click 'OK.' Note that the Star Seismic BRB sections are defined
with artificially high moments of inertia about the 2 and 3 axis in order prevent buckling
behavior and ensure BRB tensile strength governs design.

Define Steel Material for Star Seismic BRB Sections:

The Star Seismic BRB sections will need to be assigned a steel material with a yield stress equal
to the lower bound yield stress limit, Fysc-min, of the BRB steel core material (e.g. 38ksi). Consult
Star Seismic as to what lower bound yield stress value will be appropriate for your project.
To define this new steel material, go under the 'Define' menu option and select 'Material
Properties...' Click on the 'Steel' material property, then click on the button 'Add New Material...'
Rename the material 'STEELBRB,' edit the 'Minimum Yield Stress, Fy' to be 38 (ensure ETABS
units are ksi, or do proper conversion) and 'Minimum Tensile Strength, Fu' to be 58, then click
'OK.'

To assign this material to all Star Seismic BRB sections, go under the 'Define' menu option and
select 'Frame Sections...' For each Star Seismic BRB section, scroll to the section, click on it,
then click 'Modify/Show Property...' When the property window opens, click on the 'Material'
drop down menu and select the new steel material 'STEELBRB.' Do this for all Star Seismic
BRB sections.

Assign Star Seismic BRB Sections to Braces in ETABS Model:

First, be sure all braces are modeled as pin-pin.
Star Seismic BRB sections are named according to their steel core areas, Asc. For example, the
section 'StarBRB-1.0' has a steel core area of 1.0 in2. Assign BRB sizes approximately equal to
the required axial strength, Pu, divided by 0.9*Fysc-min. Sizes can then be easily revised as
necessary to meet strength and drift requirements.
To assign the Star Seismic BRB sections to braces, select all braces that will be of a particular
BRB size. Go under the 'Assign' menu option, then under the 'Frame/Line' sub-menu, and click
on 'Frame Section...' Scroll to the Star Seismic BRB section desired, select it and click 'OK.'
Repeat this process until all braces are assigned their appropriate Star Seismic BRB section
property.

In the extrusion view (3D, plan or elevation), the Star Seismic BRB sections are shown as square
or rectangular, based on a typical casing size for each BRB size of average length. If necessary,
contact Star Seismic for the exact size of the casing that will be used for the specified brace size,
based on actual frame geometry. Note that this information is not necessary for the analysis
performed in ETABS.

Assign Star Seismic BRB Effective Axial Stiffness Modification Factors:

Star Seismic BRB sections are modeled as prismatic sections, from work point to work point,
with a cross sectional area equal to the steel core area, Asc. The effective axial stiffness of the
Star Seismic BRB, however, needs to account for the relative stiffness of core plate transitions,
brace end connections and gusset plate connections. For preliminary design, a cross-section area
modification factor of 1.5 may be satisfactory. However, Star Seismic should be contacted to
determine the appropriate value to use in final design.
To assign cross-sectional area modification factors, select all the Star Seismic BRB braces which
will be assigned a particular modification factor, e.g. 1.5. Go under the 'Assign' menu option,
then under the 'Frame/Line' sub-menu, and click on 'Frame Property Modifiers...' Enter the
modification factor under the 'Cross-section (axial) Area' category. Repeat this process for all
Star Seismic BRB sections.

Analyze the Model:

This brief write-up considers elastic analyses only. Nonlinear analyses are beyond the scope of
this write-up.
In order to perform a code strength check of the Star Seismic BRB sections within ETABS, first
an analysis run must be performed in ETABS. Be sure self-weight of braces is not included, by
setting the self-weight multiplier to zero for the 'DEAD' static load case(s). It is up to the
discretion of the Structural Engineer of Record (SEOR) as to which lateral analysis method is
most appropriate. The following design procedure can be used with a static or dynamic response
spectrum (code or site-specific) analysis.

Perform a Code Strength Check on the Star Seismic BRB sections:

It is the responsibility of the SEOR to ensure proper adherence to the governing building codes,
including seismic provisions per AISC 341, in the design of Star Seismic BRBs and BRBF
5

systems as a whole. For example, it is the responsibility of the SEOR to consider such issues as
whether or not it is required or desired to include gravity loads in the design load combinations
for BRBs, etc.
The following is a guide for performing a strength design check of the Star Seismic BRB
sections based on ETABS 'Default Design Combinations' for the building code selected by the
SEOR.
First, assign the governing steel design code by going under the 'Options' menu option, then
under the 'Preferences...' sub-menu, and click on 'Steel Frame Design...' Select the appropriate
code under the 'Design Code' category drop down menu. Note that the AISC 360-05/IBC2006
code option is only available in ETABS versions 9.2.0 and later. These codes allow a phi factor
of 0.9 for axial compression capacity, versus 0.85 from previous codes. Next, under the 'Frame
Type' category select 'SCBF,' since 'BRBF' is not yet a design option in ETABS (as of ETABS
version 9.7.0). Click 'OK.'

Define a group called 'STARBRB' to include all Star Seismic BRB sections. Select this group
for design, by going under the 'Design' menu option, then under the 'Steel Frame Design' submenu, and click on 'Select Design Group...' Add the 'STARBRB' group, then click 'OK.'

To define code default design load combinations, go under the 'Define' menu option and click on
'Add Default Design Combos...' Check the 'Steel Frame Design' box in the menu that pops up,
and click 'OK.' Select these load combinations for design by going under the 'Design' menu
option, then under the 'Steel Frame Design' sub-menu, and click on 'Select Design Combos...'
Add all of the default code strength load combinations, which end with 'S' and a number, e.g.
'DSTLS1' or 'DSTLS6' (as opposed to the deflection/ serviceability load combinations, which
end with 'D' and a number instead), then click 'OK.'

Perform the code strength check by going under the 'Design' menu option, then under the 'Steel
Frame Design' sub-menu, and click on 'Start Design/Check of Structure...' After it is finished
running, to view strength interaction ratios of Star Seismic BRB sections, go under the 'Design'
menu option, then under the 'Steel Frame Design' sub-menu, and click on 'Display Design
Results...' Under the 'Design Output' category select 'P-M Ratio Colors & Values.' If you would
like to change the BRB size of a brace, you can investigate different Star Seismic BRB section
sizes by selecting the brace member of interest, going under the 'Design' menu option, then under

the 'Steel Frame Design' sub-menu, and click on 'Change Design Section...' Scroll and select the
section size you would like to investigate and click 'OK.' Then repeat the instructions starting
from the beginning of this paragraph in order to re-start the code strength design check and
investigate results.

To view the calculation results summary of a particular Star Seismic BRB, simply right click on
the brace of interest.

For the detailed calculation, click on 'Details' button in the open window.

Pn = (F
( ysc-min)*Asc

Note that the axial capacity is based on the tensile strength of the BRB regardless of whether the
brace is in tension or compression, per AISC 341-05, Section 16.2a.

Note to the Structural Engineer of Record (SEOR):

Be advised that there are several other code design requirements which are not currently checked
in ETABS, and go beyond the scope of this write-up. Be sure to consult all governing building,
seismic and material codes to ensure a complete design of the Buckling Restrained Braced Frame
(BRBF), featuring Star Seismic BRBs.