Bernard Jose Macahig (475608)

CE 561/D (6097)
Engr. Geffren Bernardo

TYPES OF FAILURES OF TENSION MEMBERS:

1. Tensile Yielding/Gross Section Yielding – this happens whenever the stress on the
section’s gross area is big enough to produce excessive deformation and this means that it
can experience permanent elongation, and this permanent elongation is not a desirable
state of the member.

Tensile yielding is considered away from the connections in the mid part of the member.

2. Tensile Rupture/Net Section Rupture – this happens when the stress on the section's
effective area is high enough to cause the fracturing of the member, which typically
occurs across a bolt line where the tension member is weakest. In this case of failure
there are two potential paths [see the figure (c) and (d) below].
3. Block Shear Rupture – It is where tensile failure could be accompanied by shear failure
such that a block of the tension member tears away. This failure plane usually takes place
along the direction of the centerlines for bolted connections of the bolt holes. Along the
perimeter of welded connections, this type of failure may also occur. Figure below shows
3 possible block shear failure paths.

References:

Vigil, J., Aghayere, A. (2008). Structural Steel Design: A Practice Oriented Approach (1 st
Edition)

https://www.bgstructuralengineering.com/BGSCM13/BGSCM003/index.htm