Abstract
This paper describes how to obtain the vertical distribution of the ratios (herefter termed β) of story shear force shared by bracings to total story shear force along the height of the frame when the ultimate factored design loads are given. The effct of horizontal deflection caused by column shortening and elongation of the braced bay on the ratios β is taken into account in the process of designing. Design example according to the present method is illustrated for ten-story three-bay braced frames. Tensile and compressive bracing members are designed by the formulas based upon the cyclic reduction in energy absorption capacity. It has shown in examples that the vertical distribution of β is significantly affected by the column shortening and elongation of the braced bay and by the load factor at the time of brace yielding.
