Behavior of Harp and Perimetral Bracing System in Pre-engineered Building Subjected to Lateral Loads

Abstract

Pre-engineered buildings (PEB) are pre- fabricated in the factory and the components are assembled at site thereby reducing the time of completion. In PEB the frame geometry matches the shape of the bending moment (internal stress) diagram so the total weight of the structure can be reduced due to optimization in material usage. Horizontal (seismic/wind) load is the unreliable load that is coming on the structure, which results in production of storey drift, overturning moment, storey displacement etc., causing failure of the structure. In PEB there is series of two-dimensional frames repeated at every certain distance. These frames are stabilized longitudinally by providing of bracings. The frames in the transverse direction bears loads in its plane with no help from the longitudinal bracings, so the columns act as bending brackets, requiring large-size columns and large foundations. Against this arrangement, special on-roof bracing arrangements like Perimetral and Harp Bracing arrangement can be used as an alternative. The present work deals with the suitability of type of bracings arrangement by performing Time history analysis on 3D industrial structures with different configurations of bracings arrangement using ETABS. Also the suitability of different type of bracings arrangement for varying span is studied.