Lecture Notes: 2.

1 Introduction
STEEL STRUCTURES  Tension members are structural elements that are
subjected to axial tensile forces.
 Including truss members, bracing for buildings and
bridges, cables in suspended roof systems, cables in
C2. Tension Members suspension and cable-stayed bridges.

Instructor:
Ngo-Huu Cuong  Dr.Eng., Associate Professor
Dept. of Structural Engineering – Faculty of Civil Engineering
University of Technology – VNU-HCM
3

CONTENT 2.1 Introduction

 Circular rods and rolled angle shapes are frequently
used; built-up shapes from plates and rolled shapes
2.1 Introduction
are sometimes used when large loads must be
2.2 Concentrically loaded tension members resisted.
In some cases the effects of local stress
2.3 Eccentrically and locally connected 
concentrations may be significant. Then the maximum
tension members local stresses should be estimated and accounted for.
2.4 Design
2.5 Examples

2 Typical tension sections 4

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 2.2 Concentrically loaded tension members 2.2.2 Members with small holes
2.2.1 Members without holes  The presence of small local holes causes early
 The general yield load capacity:
yielding around the holes, so that the load-
deflection behavior becomes nonlinear
 The maximum value:
 The member may reach the gross yield load
because of strain-hardening effects around the
holes

Concentration of tension next to a hole

Load-extension behaviour of a perfect tension member 5 7

Residual stresses 2.2.3 Members with significant holes

 Local fracture load:

 Anet = the minimum net area of the cross-section

measured perpendicular to the line of action of the load:

 A member which fails by fracture before the gross yield

load can be reached is not ductile, and there is a little
warning of failure.
 For staggered holes, the possibility must be considered
of failure along a zig-zag path.

Effect of residual stresses on load-extension behaviour 6 8

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 2.3 Eccentrically and locally connected
Staggered holes
tension members
 In simpler methods, the effects are approximated by
reducing the cross-sectional area of the member to an
effective net area Anet,eff and by designing it as if
concentrically loaded.

Possible failure path with staggered holes

When actual stagger s < min. stagger , some  For a single angle in tension connected by a single row
reduced part of the hole area Ah must be deducted from the of bolts in one leg (EC3-1-8):
gross section A  For one bolt:

 For two bolts:

9  For three or more bolts: 11

2.3 Eccentrically and locally connected 2.3 Eccentrically and locally connected
tension members tension members
 2 = 0.4 when p1  2.5d0; 2 = 0.7 when p1  5d0
 3 = 0.5 when p1  2.5d0; 3 = 0.7 when p1  5d0
linear interpolation for intermediate spacings

Angles with holes in both legs

 For an unequal angle connected by its smaller leg, Anet should

be taken as the net section of an equivalent equal angle of leg
equal to the smaller leg of the unequal angle.
 For an angle or other member with holes in more than one
plane, p should be measured along the centre of thickness of
10 the material (EC3-1.1 – Fig. 6.2). 12

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 2.4 Design Flow chart for the design

 2.4.1 Concentrically loaded tension members

 Yield limit state:

 M0 = 1: partial factor for cross-section resistance

 Fracture limit state:

 M2 = 1.25: partial factor for resistance in tension to fracture

 0.9: ensures that the effective partial factor M2 /0.9  1.39 for
the limit state of material fracture is suitably higher than the
value of M0 (=1) for the limit state of yielding, reflecting the
influence of greater variability in fu and the reduced ductility of
13 15
members which fail by fracture at bolt holes

2.4 Design 2.5 Worked examples

2.5.1 Net area
 2.4.2 Eccentrically connected tension members
 Same as aboved equation (2.4.1), with effective net
area “Anet,eff” replaced for the “”0.9Anet”.

 Normally, slenderness ratio limitation for tension member

Flange of universal column section

14 16

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 2.5.4 Ex4: Checking an eccentrically
2.5.2 Ex2: S235, Tension resistance
connected single unequal angle

17 19

2.5.5 Ex5: Checking an eccentrically

2.5.3 Ex3: Checking a tension member
connected single unequal angle

18 20

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