Horizontal brace with gravity shear

[Nitesh Sadashiva]

Hello,

I am designing the structural steel connections for one of the projects (connection design was delegated to me). I have a condition where W8 members are used as horizontal braces. EOR specified to consider the dead load of the member plus 40 plf load as the gravity shear for the horizontal brace connection along with the specified axial force. Typically plan braces are designed for axial only. If we are to consider the shear, the bending of the plan brace gusset is critical. Even if I use a thick plate to withstand the bending, I am clueless on how to account the moment created by the gravity shear at the gusset-to-girder web connection. Did anyone come across a similar situation? any suggestions will be helpful.

 

[DrZoidberWoop]

1) I've never had to design any horizontal braces/dunnage w/ vertical shear loads. Usually, the axial loads are orders of magnitude greater than any self-weight or other minor load.
2) If the moments are small enough, could you do something like this?:

It's a rough sketch. Best of luck.