STRUCTURAL STEEL DESIGN

Dr. Ammar A. Ali

d = distance between bolts

The bolt holes are located on gage lines that are parallel to the longitudinal axis. The
dimension g between the gage lines is called the gage. The dimension s parallel to the gage
line and taken between centers of bolt holes is called the pitch (or the bolt spacing). The
distance between bolts is a straight-line distance between any two bolts. The edge
distance is the prependicular distance from the center of a hole to the nearest edge.

The analysis of a tension member involves the determination of the indiviual allowable
loads based on the various failure modes. Once these have been determined, the axial load
capacity of the member is taken as the smallest value.

Example:

Find the axial tensile load capacity Pt of the lapped, bolted tension member shown in Fig.
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2.4. Bolts are –in. diameter, and the plate is A36 steel (Fu = 58-80 ksi from the ASD
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manual, Part 1, Table 1 and the LRFD manual, Part 2, Table 2-3). Assume that the fasteners
are adequate and do not control the tensile capacity. Pitch, gage, and distance are as
shown.

7 Pt
Pt 16 "

7
16 "
(a)

3"
F B
Pt 3" Pt
C
3"
G D
3"

E
121" 3" 3" 121"

(b)

Fig. 2.4 Tension member analysis

Solution:

𝑃𝑃𝑡𝑡 = 𝐹𝐹𝑡𝑡 𝐴𝐴𝑛𝑛 or 𝐹𝐹𝑡𝑡 𝐴𝐴𝑔𝑔

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