Structural Steel Design

Course Code: CIVE324

Chapter 3:
Analysis of Tension Members – Part c
Block Shear
Textbook: Structural Steel Design, LRFD Method, Jack C. McCormack

Instructor: Eng. Sara Alattieh

Dr.Zaid Al-Sadoon, P.hD., P.Eng

Block Shear

▪ The design strength of tension members is not always governed by:

•Or by the strength of the bolt or weld by which the member is connected.

▪ The design strength may instead by controlled by its

• block shear strength as to be discussed herein.
 Block Shear
The failure of a
member may
occur along a
path involving
tension on one
plane and
shear on a
perpendicular
plane.
 Block Shear
• When the tensile load applied to a particular connectionn is
increased, the fracture strength of the weaker plane will be
approached.
• That plane will not fall because it restrained by the stronger plane.
• The load can be increased until the fracture strength of the
stronger plane will be reached.
• During this time the weaker plane is in yielding.
• The total strength of the connection equals the fracture
strength of stronger plane plus the yield strength of the weaker
plane.
• However, it is not realistic to add the fracture strength of one
plane to the yield strength of the plane to determine the block
shear capacity of a particular member.
Case 1: Shear Failure

This member has larger shear area and a smaller

tensile area. Therefore the primary resistance to
block shear failure is shearing and not tensile

Shear Failure: Shear Fracture + Tensile Yield

Case 1: Tension Failure

This member has large tensile area and a small

shear area. Therefore the block shear failure
will be tensile and not shearing.

Tension Failure: Tensile Fracture + Shear Yield

Block Shear Strength
• The AISC Specification states that the available strength Rn
for the block shear rupture design strength is as follows:

=
Block Shear Design
 Example 1
The A572 Grade 50 (Fu = 65 ksi) tension member shown is
connected with three 3/4-in bolts. Determine the LRFD block shear
rupture strength and the LRFD design tensile strength of the
member
Solution
Solution
Solution
 Take Home Problem
Determine the LRFD
tensile design
strength of the
W12x30
(Fy = 50 ksi, Fu = 65
ksi) shown in the
Figure, if 7/8 inbolts
are used in the
connection. Check
Block Shear
Calculations for the
flanges.
Take Home Problem
Answers:
Questions ?