HSS Reference Guide No. 5: HSS Brace to HSS Column Connections
Design Manuals/Design Guides
STI HSS Design Manual, Volume 4: Truss and Bracing Connections
- Section 4-2.1 “Introduction to Bracing Connections” starting on page 4-1.120 provides details and design considerations for bracing connections to HSS members.
- Section 4-2.2, starting on page 4-2.123, through Section 4-2.6, provide examples for brace connections to HSS columns in various configurations.
STI Limit State Tables Per AISC 360 Specification
Summary of Limit States to consider in HSS Connections with references to design equations per AISC 360-22 Specification, AISC 16th Ed. Manual, and AISC Design Guide No. 24, 2nd Edition.
AISC 360-22 Specification and 16th Ed. Steel Construction Manual
- Specification 360-22, Section J10 and K for limit states and information
- 16th Ed. Steel Construction Manual
- Part 9, “Design of Connecting Elements”, starting on page 9-16
- Part 13, “Design of Bracing Connections and Truss Connections”, page 13-1
AISC Design Guide 24: Hollow Structural Section Connections (Second Edition)
By Jeffrey A. Packer and Kimberley Olson, 2024
- Chapter 7, “Tension and Compression Connections” for HSS brace connections
- Chapter 8, “Line Loads and Concentrated Forces on HSS” for gusset-to-HSS column connections
AISC Design Guide 29: Vertical Bracing Connections – Analysis and Design
By Larry S. Muir and William A. Thornton, 2014
- Section 3.6, “HSS Braces”
**CIDECT Design Guide 1 for Circular Hollow Section (CHS) Joints Under Predominantly Static Loading, Second Edition
By J. Wardenier, Y. Kurobane, J.A. Packer, G.J. van der Vegte, X.-L. Zhao, 2008
- Chapter 7, “Welded Plate, I, H or RHS to CHS Chord Joints”
**CIDECT Design Guide 3 for Rectangular Hollow Section (RHS) Joints Under Predominantly Static Loading
By J.A. Packer, J. Wardenier, X.-L. Zhao, G.J. van der Vegte, Y. Kurobane, 2004
- Chapter 7, “Welded Plate-to-RHS Joints”
**CIDECT Design Guide 9 for Structural Hollow Section Column Connections
By Y. Kurobane, J.A. Packer, J. Wardenier, N. Yeomans, 2004
- Chapter 10, “Bracing and Truss Connections to Columns”
Hollow Structural Section Connections and Trusses, A Design Guide
By Jeffrey A. Packer and J.E. Henderson, Canadian Institute of Steel Construction, 1997
- Chapter 7, “Bolted HSS Connections” for HSS brace connections
- Chapter 11, “Plate to HSS Connections” for gusset-to-HSS column connections
*Note: CIDECT activity is currently on hold and downloads from their website are not possible at this time.
Articles
STI Articles
HSS Brace Connections to HSS Column and WF Beam
By Jeffrey A. Packer, 2025
Gusset Plate-to-HSS Column Connections Under Eccentric Brace Loads
By Jeffrey A. Packer, 2014
Shear Lag in Slotted-End HSS Welded Connections
By Jeffrey A. Packer, 2014
Connecting to Structural Castings
By Kim Olson, 2020
Expert Tips for Cost-Effective HSS Specification and Fabrication
Includes discussion on fabrication of HSS brace connections
By Mike Manor, PE, MLSE and Cathleen Jacinto, PE, SE, 2023
Width-Thickness Requirements for Square and Rectangular HSS Subject to
Flexure
By Jason McCormick, July 2014
Reference Guides
HSS Reference Guide No. 4: HSS Connection Limit States and Limits of Applicability
Refers to limit states for HSS brace connections
Recorded Webinars
Brace Yourself—HSS Brace Design and Detailing
Cathleen Jacinto, Steel Tube Institute, May 2024
HSS Connections: Splices, Bases & Braces
Kim Olson, Steel Tube Institute, December 2016
Yield Line Analysis in Practice
Guidance on yield line analysis and plastification limit state checks for gusset plate-to-HSS column connections.
Cathleen Jacinto, Steel Tube Institute, December 2021
Software/Design Tools
Bentley RAM Connection
HSS Brace-HSS Column Connections
IDEA StatiCa
Offers finite element analysis for any HSS connection type and loading
RISA Connection
HSS Brace-HSS Column Connections
STI HSS Connex
Select Plate-to-HSS Connection type and Longitudinal Plate connections.
- HSS Brace-HSS Column Connections
- HSS Brace-Reinforced Column Connections
Research Papers
A Derivation of the Uniform Force Method for Analysis and Design of Gusset Plate Connections for Vertical Diagonal Bracing
By S.T. Dranger and A.W. Thornton, AISC Engineering Journal, Vol 62, No. 2, 2nd Quarter 2025
Bracing Connections to Rectangular HSS Columns
By Kosteski, N. and Packer, J.A., Connections in Steel Structures IV: Behavior, Strength, and Design, Proceedings of the Fourth International Workshop, pp. 372-381, October, 2000
ASCE Journal of Structural Engineering: Welded Tee-to-HSS Connections
By Kosteski, N. and Packer, J.A., ASCE Journal of Structural Engineering, Vol. 129, Issue 2, pp. 151-159, January 2003
Longitudinal Plate and Through Plate-to-Hollow Structural Section Welded Connections
By Kosteski N. and Packer, J.A. Packer, ASCE Journal of Structural Engineering, Vol. 129, Issue 4, pp. 478-486, March 2003