SAP2000 Modeling Question

[Keystation]

I am making an x brace that is connected by a plate in the middle. However, it's not 4 individual members joining together in the middle. Two members are just crossing each other connected by plate in the middle to reduce unbraced length.

If I were to make 2 elements crossing each other, unbraced length is not accurate. However, making them 4 individual members will allow all 4 of them to act independently.

How would you model this in SAP?

 

[driftLimiter]

Cant you manually specify the K factor to be used for column design in sap?

AISC SDM x-brace example has some commentary on the K factor for braces connected at the middle node.

Depending on how many of these you have a simple hand calc of the braces might suffice where SAP 2000 design checks are not serving you well.

 

[STpipe]

For something like this, I would just model it as two elements not connected to each other and overwrite the unbraced length for the design checks.