STEEL DESIGN

COURSE CODE: 0401-418

CHAPTER

Design of Tension Members

TEXT BOOK, STRUCTURAL STEE DESIGN, JOHN McCormack
 Selection of Members

▪ This chapter deals with the design of tension members

for external loads.
▪ The design of tension members should be characterized
by the following:
▪ Compactness
▪ Dimensions fitting into the whole structure with
reasonable relation to other member dimensions.
▪ Minimization of block shear
 How to select tension members ?

AISC LRFD Specifications

• From the preceding chapter, the design strength
of a tension member is the lesser of:

• In addition: The slenderness ratio* of a member should

preferable not exceed 300 (L/r <300).
* The ratio of member unsupported length to its least radius of gyration (r)
 LRFD Design Strength
• The first expression is satisfied if :
 LRFD Design Strength
▪ The second condition is satisfied if :

▪ Since Ae =U An for bolted members, the minimum value of An

is given by:

▪ Then min Ag =min An + Ah then thee minimum value of Ag in

the second condition given by:
 LRFD Design Strength
❖ The third condition (EQ 3) can be evaluated once a trial
section has been selected and the parameters related to
block shear are known.
❖ The designer can substitute into EQ 4 and EQ 7 taking the
larger of Ag so obtained for an initial size estimate.
❖ The designer should also check the slenderness ratio
which should not exceed 300.

Or (8)
 Example 1

Select a 30 ft long W12 section of A992 steel to support a

tensile service dead load PD = 130 k and a tensile service
live load PL = 110 k. As shown in the figure below, the
member is to have two lines of bolts in each flange for
7/8 inch bolts ( at least three bolts in line, 4 inch on
center).
Solution
 Solution

1. Calculate the Ultimate load:

Whenever dead and live loads are the only forces, then evaluate
only the first two equations in the set of equations of load
combinations (Chapter 2)
 Solution
2. Compute the minimum Ag using EQ 4 and EQ 7

From EQ4:

From EQ7:
Solution
 Solution
Therefore, From EQ7:

3. Calculate the preferable minimum r from EQ 8

Trial section:
 Solution
4. Check a trial section
Solution
Solution
 Example 2

Solution
Solution
Solution
Design of Built-up Tension Members
 Design of Built-up Tension Members

▪ The LRFD Specification provides a definite set of rules

describing how the different parts of built-up tension
members are to be connected together (Section J3.5 AISC;
Section 4.2 in your text). These Specifications specifies the
longitudinal spacing of connectors between those
elements for different built up configurations.

▪ Section D4 in the AISC set limitations for the tie plates on

the open sides of built-up tension members.
 Connection of Built-up Tension Members
1. When a tension member is built up from element in
continuous contact with each other, such as two plates, or
a plate and a shape not in contact to each other, the
longitudinal spacing of connectors between those
elements must not exceed 24 times the thickness of the
thinner plate, or 12 in if the member is to be painted.
2. Should the member consists of unpainted weathering
steel elements in continuous contact and be subject to
atmospheric corrosion, the maximum permissible
connector spacings are 14 times the thickness of the
thinner plate, or 7 in.
 Connection of Built-up Tension Members
3. Should a tension member be built up from two or more
shapes separated by intermittent filet, the shapes must be
connected to each other at intervals such that the
slenderness ratio of the individual shapes between
fasteners does not exceed 300.
4. The distance from the center of any bolts to the nearest
edge of the connected part under consideration may not
be larger than 12 times the thickness of the connected
part, or 6 in.
 Tie Plates Specifications

• Tie plates shall have a length not less than 2/3 the distance
between the lines of welds or fasteners connecting them to
the components of the member.
• The thickness of such tie plates shall not be less than 1/50 of
the distance between these lines.
• The longitudinal spacing of intermittent welds or fasteners at
tie plates shall not exceed 6 in. (150 mm).
• The longitudinal spacing of connectors between components
should preferably limit the slenderness ratio in any
component between the connectors to 300.
Example 3

Two C12 x 30 sections as shown in the figure below, have

been selected to support a tensile dead load of 120 k
and a tensile live load of 240 k. The member is 30 ft long,
consists of A36 steel and has one line of at least three
bolts of 7/8 in each flange 3-in on center. Determine
whether the member is satisfactory and design the
necessary tie plates. Assume centers of bolt holes are
1.75 in from the backs of the channels.
Example 3
Solution

1. Calculate the Ultimate load

Solution
 Solution
2. Compute Design Strengths
 Solution
3. Check Slenderness Ratio
 Solution
4. Design of Tie Plates
 Rods and Bars

• When rods and bars are used as tension members, they

may be simply welded at their ends, or they may be
threaded and held in place with nuts.
• The LRFD nominal tensile design stress for threaded rods
is given in their table J3.2 and equals φ 0.75 Fu, and is to
be applied to the gross area of the rod AD computed with
the major thread diameter.
Rods and Bars

In Table 7-18 of the Manual, entitled "Threading

Dimensions for High-Strength and Non-High-Strength
Bolts," properties of standard threaded rods are
presented.

The area required for a particular tensile load can then

be calculated from the following expression:
Rods and Bars
Rods and Bars
 Example 4

• Using A36 steel and LRFD Specification, select a standard

rod of A36 steel to support a tensile working dead load of
10 k and a tensile working live load of 20 k

Solution:
 Example 5

Design the sag rods for the Purlins of the truss shown in Fig.
below. Purlins are to be supported at their one-third points
between the trusses, which are spaced 21 ft on centers. Use
A36 steel and assume that a minimum-size rod of 5/8 in is
permitted. A clay tile roof weighing 16 psf (0.77 kN/m2) of
roof surface is used and supports a snow load of 20 psf (0.96
kN/m2) of horizontal projection of roof surface. Details of the
purlins and the sag rods and their connections are shown in
Figs. In these figures, the dotted lines represent ties and
struts in the end panels in the plane of the roof, commonly
used to give greater resistance to loads located on one side
of the roof (a loading situation that might occur when snow
is blown off one side of the roof during a severe windstorm).
Example 5

Plan of two bays of roof.

Example 5

Truss - Details of Sag Rods Connections

Solution
Solution

Alternative Solution:
Law of Sines:
Ɵ1 = tan-1 1/3 = 18.4o R
Ɵ2 = 180 – 90 – 18.4 = 71.56o

𝑇 𝑃
=
sin Ɵ2 sin 90 3

4.37 𝑃 P
= Ɵ2 Ɵ1
sin Ɵ2 sin 90
R 1 Ɵ1
𝑃 = 4.61 𝑘 < 10.02 k O.K. T
Ɵ2
Questions ?