ANALYSIS OF TENSION MEMBERS (BOLTED & RIVETED CONNECTIONS)

Procedure:
Step 1: Know the given variables: L, Ag, Fy, Fu.
Step 2: Based on the Yielding in the gross section area Ag, Calculate Pt :
(Pt = 0.6Fy Ag )

Step 3:
For Linear Holes:
Determine the net area of the section An:
(An = Ag – no. of holes x hole diameter x thickness of the plate) ≤ 0.85Ag

For Staggered Holes:

s^2
(An = Ag – ∑no. of holes x t + ∑ 4g
where:
s = longitudinal center-to-center spacing (pitch) of any two
consecutive holes
g = transverse center-to-center spacing (gage) between
fasteners gage lines, mm.

Step 4: Determine the Effective Net Area Coefficient for fasteners, U.

Min. no. of
fasteners per
Member Type line in the U
direction of
tension
a. All segments are connected
1 1
to transmit the tension
b. W, M, or S 3 0.90
c. Tees 3 0.90
d. W, M, S sections are not
meeting the conditions of (b),
Tees not meeting the
3 0.85
conditions of (c), and all other
shapes including built up
sections.
e. All sections 2 0.75

Step 5: Based on Fracture in the Effective Net Section, Using the determined net
area and net area coefficient, Calculate effective net section Ae:
(Ae = U An)

Step 6: Calculate Pt based on the fracture in the effective net section.

(Pt = 0.5 Fu Ae)
Step 7: Calculate shear in bolts:
(P = fvAv)
where,
fv = Actual Stress
Av = Abolt x no. of bolts (For Single Shear) or;
Av = 2Abolt x no. of bolts (For Double Shear)

Step 8: Calculate bearing on the projected area between the bolt and the plate.
(P = fpAp)
where,
fp = Actual Stress
Ap = ∑(Bolt diameter x plate thickness)

For allowable stress, Fp

 In standard or short slotted holes with two or more bolts in the line
of force, when deformation around the hole is of concern,
Fp = 1.20Fu
 In long slotted holes with the axis of the slot perpendicular to the
direction of load and with two or more bolts in the line of force,
Fp = 1.00Fu

Step 9: Calculate Pt based on block shear:

(Pt = FvAv + FtAt)
where,
Allowable Shearing Stress, Fv = 0.3Fu
Allowable Tearing Stress, Ft = 0.5Fu
Av = Area along tearing
Ap = Area along shearing

L
Step 10: Check if; r
≤ 300

Step 11: Use the lowest value of Pt obtained from all modes of failure.
Example (Easy):
Calculate the service tensile load capacity for an L100 x 100 x 6. A53 steel
connected with 12 mm diameter A490 bolts in standard holes as shown in the figure.

L100 x 100 x 6

12 mm bolts in standard holes P

40 mm
40 mm 3 @ 75 mm

SOLUTION:
Relevant Properties of L100 x 100 x 6:
A = 1 179 mm2
t = 6 mm
Bolt Diameter = 12 mm
Standard Hole = 14 mm
Hole Diameter = 14 + 1.6 = 15.6 mm
For A53 steel:
Fy = 241 Mpa
Fu = 414 Mpa

Tension on Gross Area:

Ft = 0.6Fy = 0.6 (241)
Ft = 144.6 MPa

P= FtAg
P = 144.6 (1179)
P= 170.48 Kn

Tension on net area:

P = Ft x A e
Ft = 0.5Fu
Ft = 0.5 (414)
Ft = 207 MPa
 P

40 mm
40 mm 3 @ 75 mm

In this tension member, the tension connection is not made in a manner that results in
the attachment of all parts of the section. Only one side of the angle section is attached
to the plate. Section 502.4.2 of NSCP requires that the effective net area shall be Ae = U
An

U = 0.85

An = Ag – 1 hole x t
An = 1 179 – 15.6(6)
An = 1 085.4 mm2

Ae = 0.85 (1 085.4)
Ae = 922.59 mm2

P = 207 (922.59)
P = 190.976 kN

Shear on bolts ( 4 bolts in single shear)

Fv = 276 MPa
P = FvAv
π
P = 276[(4 ( 4 (12)2]
P = 124.859 kN

Bearing on Projected Area:

Fp = 1.2 Fu
Fp = 1.2 (414)
Ap = d x t x number of bolts
Ap = 12 (6)(4)
Ap = 288 mm2

P = Fp A p
P = 288 (496.8)
P = 143.078 kN

Shear Rupture (Block Shear)

Ft = 0.5Fu
Ft = 0.5 (414)
Ft = 207 MPa

At = (length ab – 0.5 hole) x t

At = (40 – 0.5 x 15.6) x 6
 At = 193.2 mm2

Fv = 0.3Fu
Fv = 0.3 (414)
Fv = 124.2 MPa

Av = (length bc – 3.5 holes) x t

Av = (225 + 40 – 3.5 x 15.6) x 6
Av = 1 262.4 mm2

P = FtAt + FvAv
P = 207 (193.2) + 124.2 (1 262.4)
P = 196 782.48 N
P = 197.78 kN

Example (Difficult):
A plate with width of 400 millimeters and thickness of 12 mm is to be
connected to a plate of the same width and thickness by 34 millimeters diameter bolts,
as shown in the figure. The holes are 2 mm larger than the bolt diameter. The plate is
A36 steel with yield strength Fy = 248 MPa. Assume allowable tensile stress on net area
is 0.6Fy. It is required to determine the value of b such that the net width along bolts 1-2-
3-4 is equal to the net width along bolts 1-2-4.

a.) Calculate the value of b in millimeters.

b.) Calculate the value of the net area for tension in plates in square millimeters.
c.) Calculate the value of P so that the allowable tensile stress on net area will
not be exceeded.

60 mm b
@ 100 mm

1
400 mm

P 2

3
P
4

150 mm
SOLUTION:
At any critical path of the top plate shown above, the load is 100% of P, hence no
reduction of net area is required. For the bottom plate, for path 1-2-3, only 75% of P
acts on the net area, while for path 1-2-3-4, 100% of P acts on the net area.

S2

a.)
s^2
Net Width = Gross Width - ∑holes + ∑ 4g
60^2 (150 - b)^2 60^2 b^2 150^2
400 – 3(34+2) + 4(100) + 4(200)
= 400 – 4(34+2) + 4(100) + 4(100) + 4(100)

(150 - b)^2 b^2

4(200)
- 4(100)
= 20.25
22 500 – 300b + b2 -2b2 = 16 200
b2 + 300b – 6300 = 0

b = 19.71 mm
b.)
Considering path 1-2-3:
60^2 ( b^2)
Net width = 400 - 3(34+2) + 4(100) + 4(200)
60 ( 19.71)
Net width = 400 - 3(34+2) + 4(100) + 4(200)
Net width = 301.97 mm

Critical Net Area = 301.97 (12)

Critical Net Area = 3 624 mm2

c.)
P = A n x Ft
P = 3624 x [0.6(248)]
P = 539.2 kN