Braced Column

A column may be considered braced

in a given plan if lateral stability of
the structure as a whole is provided
by walls or bracing.
These columns are not designed to
resist lateral loads. No sway occurs.
In braced frames lateral loads like
wind, earthquake, etc are resisted by
some special arrangement like shear
wall, bracings or special supports.
Sidesway or joint translation is not
possible in such columns.
These columns have zero value of
sway.
Most of the steel structures are
designed by this method.
These columns are more resistant to
Earthquake than unbraced column.
It is difficult to provide opening
between two braced columns.
Used in tube in tube structures where
multistory buildings are to be
constructed.
Structural System having bracing are
mostly used in important/special
structures.

Unbraced Column
A column may be considered
unbraced in a given plan if lateral
stability of the structure as a whole
is provided by columns only.
These columns are designed to
resist lateral loads. Sway occurs.
In unbraced frames lateral loads like
wind, earthquake, etc are resisted
by columns.
Sidesway or joint translation occurs
in such columns.
These columns are subjected to
sway.
Most of the RCC structures are
design by this method.
These columns are less resistant to
Earthquake than braced column.
It is easy to provide opening
between two unbraced columns.
Used in RCC framed structures
where low story buildings are to be
constructed.
Structural System without bracing
are mostly used in general
structures.