Abstract
Many experimental studies of laterally braced steel beams have been achieved to know the rotation capacity of plastic hinge, but in most of them, the lateral movement of bracing point entirely constrained, and the effects of the rigidity of lateral brace on the rotation capacity and on the lateral bracing force have not been well established. In this paper, the followings are investigated by finite element method based on the theory of thin-walled beam-shells of open cross section ; (1) the relation between the rigidity of lateral bracing and the rotation capacity of plastic hinge, (2) the relation between the rigidity of lateral bracing and the lateral bracing force. And from these results, the necessary rigidity and strength of lateral bracing are decided to achieve a desired rotation capacity.
