Structural Steel Design

Course Code: CIVE324

Chapter 3:
Analysis of Tension Members – Part b
Effective Net Areas
Textbook: Structural Steel Design, LRFD Method, Jack C. McCormack

Instructor: Eng. Sara Alattieh

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

In this section:

• Part I: Effect of Staggered Holes

• Part II: Effect of Bolted Connections
• Part III: Effect of Welded Members
Part b (I)
Effect of Staggered Holes
Effect of Staggered Holes
• Effect of staggered holes arises when there is more than one hole,
and the holes are not lined up transverse to the loading direction.
• In such case, more than one failure line is expected
• The controlling failure line is the one that gives the minimum net
area.

Figure 1
Figure 2
❖ In all previous examples tension members were assumed to fail along a
line transverse to the direction of the load such as the case of Figure 1.
a and b where failure is along line AB.

❖ In Figure 1.c, the holes are staggered and failure could possibly occur
along ABCD unless the holes are a large distance apart.

❖ Apparently, path ABE seems critical since it is shorter than ABCD,

however along ABE only one hole will be deducted while 2 holes will be
deducted from path ABCDE.
Controlling Section

❖ To determine the controlling section, both paths ABE and ABCDE should
be investigated.

❖ Accurate checking of strength along ABCDE is very complex. However,

there is a simplified method adopted by LRFD to determine the net
width of a tension member along a zigzagged section.

S is the longitudinal spacing (pitch)

g is the transverse spacing (gage)

❖ The method is:
o Take the gross width of the member regardless of the line
along which the failure may occur.
o Subtract the diameter of the holes along the zigzag section.
o Add for each line the quantity S2/4g
o The smallest width is multiplied by the plate thickness to
get the net area An
The controlling section is the one that gives the least value after
subtracting the holes and adding the quantity S2/4g
Example 1

• Determine the critical net area of the ½ - in plate shown using the LRFD
Specifications. The holes are punched for ¾ -in bolts.
Solution

• From the figure, S= 3 in

and g = 3 in and 6 in.
• The critical section
could possibly be:
ABCD, ABEF or ABCEF
Solution
Solution
Example 2

• For the two lines of bolt holes shown, determine the pitch S that will give a
net area DEFG equal to the one along ABC. The holes are punched for ¾ -in
bolts.
Solution
Example 3

• Determine the net area of the W12x16 shown below. The holes are pouched
for 1-in bolts
Solution

For W12x16, Ag = 4.71 in2

The two possible paths are: ABDE and ABCDE.
ABDE = 4.71- 2(1+1/8)* 0.22 = 4.21 in2

ABCDE = 4.71- 3(1+1/8)*0.22 + 2*[ 22/ (4*3)]*0.22= 4.11 in2

Example 4

• Determine the net area along route ABCDEF for the C 15x 33.9 shown below.
The holes are pouched for ¾ -in bolts.
Solution

For C15x 33.9 , Ag = 10.0 in2

The approximate An along ABCDEF
Questions ?
Part b (II)
Bolted Connections
Effective Net Area, Ae

❖ The net area computed in the previous examples gives the reduced
section that resists but still may not correctly reflect the strength of the
member.
❖ This is particularly true when the tension member has a profile
consisting of elements not in a common plane and where the tensile
load is transmitted at the end of the member by some but not all of the
elements.
❖ An angle section connected only through one leg is an example of
such situation.
❖ In this case the tensile force is not uniformly distributed over the net
area.
❖ To account for this non-uniformity, AISC Specifications provide a
method to compute an effective net area Ae
 AISC LRFD Provisions for Effective Net Area, Ae

• The AISC LRFD Specifications provide that the effective net area is to
be computed as:
 AISC LRFD Provisions for Effective Net Area, Ae

❖ The equation applies logically for both

fastener connections having holes or welded connections.

❖ For or welded connections, the net area equals the gross area
Ag since are no holes.

❖ Whenever the tensile load is transmitted by bolts, rivets or

welds through some but not all of the cross-sectional elements
of the member, the load carrying efficiency is reduced and U will
be less than 1.0
A) BoltedConnections
• is always from the plane of load transfer (plane of connection) to
the center of gravity of the section.
• In an angle section, the effective area resisting tension can be
appreciably increased by shortening width of the unconnected leg
and lengthening the width of the connected leg ( see the figure
below)
❖ To determine the reduction factor for W section connected
through flange only, it is assumed that the W is split into to
structural tees.

❖ The value of will be the distance from the outer edge of

the flange to the center of gravity of the structural tee.
• Channel is connected with two lines of bolts through its web. The
darkened area of the channel is unconnected.
• is the horizontal distance from the outside face of the web to
the channel centroid. (Given in the Manual shape tables)
 Example 1

b f = 8.02 ” A

t f 0.62 ”

10.1”

3”
B 4”
Solution
Solution
Example 2 (Reading Assignment)
Questions ?
Part b (III)
Welded Members
B) Welded Connections
• If tension loads are transferred by welds, the rules from AISC
• Table D-3.1,Table 3.2 applies:

• For all tension members other than a plate member, If tension load is
transmitted only by longitudinal welds (L), or by longitudinal welds (L) in
combination with transverse welds (w), A is to equal the gross area of the
memberAg.

(Table 3.2, Case 2).,

L is the length in the direction of Load
• If the tension load be transmitted only by transverse welds
(w) in all members including plates, A is to equal the area of
the directly connected elements and U is to equal 1.0 (Table
3.2, Case 3).
• For Flat Plates, when the tensile force is transmitted by
longitudinal welds only on each side with NO transverse
weld, then the effective net area will be computed
according to table 3.2, Case 4.

• For combinations of longitudinal and

transverse welds, L is equal to the length
of the longitudinal weld, because the
transverse weld has little or no effect.
Example 1

❖ The PL 1x6 shown in the figure below in

connected to PL 1x10 with longitudinal fillet
welds to transfer a tensile force. Determine
the design strength of the member if
the steel is of A501 type, grad 50.

PL 1 x 10 in

Pu Pu
W=6 in

PL 1 x 6 in
l =8 in
 Solution

❖ For the given steel grade, Fy = 50 ksi and Fu = 65 ksi (Table1, Ch3.a)
❖ Considering the smaller plate,
❖ A) Gross Section Yield
= = (0.9) x(50) x (1X6) = 270 k
❖ b) Net Section Fracture
A = Ag = (1X6) = 6 in2
1.5 w = 1.5x6 = 9 in > l = 8in > w = 6 in
Therefore,
Ae = AU = (6)x(0.75) = 4.50 in2
= 0.75 x 65 x 4.5 = 219.4 k
❖ Design Strength
Example 2

❖ Compute the design strength for the

angle shown below. It is welded on the ends
and sides of the 8 in leg only. Fy = 50 ksi and
Fu = 70 ksi.
Solution

A) Gross Section Yield

= = 0.9 x 50 x 9.99 = 449.6 k
B) Net Section Fracture
• Since only one leg of the angle is connected, a reduced effective
area needs to be computed.

= 1 - 1.56/6 = 0.74
Ae = U Ag = 0.74 * 9.99 = 7.39 in 2
Design Strength = = 0.75 x 70 x 7.39 = 388 k
SPACIAL CASE: CONNECTING ELEMENTS

▪ Splices and gusset plates are usually used as tensile

connecting elements.

Splices Gusset plates

SPACIAL CASE: CONNECTING ELEMENTS

▪ According to LRFD, their strength can be determined from:

Example 3

PL 3/8 x 12
Solution
Solution
Questions ?