I am designing a 7.0 m two storey tall HSS column and I want to brace it with the bottom chord of the strut joist at mid height to reduce effective length. My question is how do you calculate for the axial load induced in the bottom chord of the strut joist?
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You also have to make sure it is stiff enough to act as a brace too. Appendix 6 is where you need to go. The brace force can also be reduced per the commentary of appendix 6 if the brace force is larger than that required.