For tension members designed by LRFD

The requirement is

Pu ≤ φ t Pn or φ t P n ≥ Pu

To prevent yielding,
Pu
0.90Fy Ag ≥ Pu or Ag ≥
0.90Fy

To avoid fracture,
Pu
0.75Fu Ae ≥ Pu or Ae ≥
0.75Fu
For tension members designed by ASD in stress form
For yielding,

Pa ≤ Ft Ag

and the required gross area is

Pa Pa
Ag ≥ or Ag ≥
Ft 0.6Fy

For the limit state of fracture, the required effective area is

Pa Pa
Ae ≥ or Ae ≥
Ft 0.5Fu
Example 3.11 of Segui (2013)

A tension member with a length of 5 feet 9 inches must resist a

service dead load of 18 kips and a service live load of 52 kips.
Select a member with a rectangular cross section. Use A36 steel
and assume a connection with one line of 7/8-inch-diameter bolts.
LRFD Solution

Pu = 1.2D + 1.6L = 1.2(18) + 1.6(52) = 104.8 kips

Pu Pu 104.8
Required Ag = = = = 3.235 in.2
φt Fy 0.90Fy 0.90(36)
Pu Pu 104.8
Required Ae = = = = 2.409 in.2
φt Fu 0.75Fu 0.75(58)
Try t = 1 in.
required Ag 3.235
Required wg = = = 3.235 in.
t 1
Try a 1 × 3 21 cross section.
 Ae = An = Ag − Ahole
= (1 × 3.5) − (7/8 + 1/8)(1) = 2.5 in.2 > 2.409 in.2 (OK)

Check the slenderness ratio:

3.5(1)3
Imin = = 0.2917 in.4
12
A = 1(3.5) = 3.5 in.2

From I = Ar2 , we obtain

r
Imin L 5.75(12)
rmin = = 0.2887 in.2 and Maximum = = 239 < 300 (
A r 0.2887
∴ Use a PL 1 × 3 12 .
ASD Solution

Pa = D + L = 18 + 52 = 70.0 kips

For yielding, Ft = 0.6Fy = 0.6(36) = 21.6 ksi, and

Pa 70
Required Ag = = = 3.24 in.2
Ft 21.6
For fracture, Ft = 0.5Fu = 0.5(58) = 29.0 ksi, and
Pa 70
Required Ae = = = 2.414 in.2
Ft 29.0
(The rest of the design procedure is the same as for LRFD. The
numerical results may be different) Try t = 1 in.
required Ag 3.241
Required wg = = = 3.241 in.
t 1
Try a 1 × 3 21 cross section.

Ae = An = Ag − Ahole
= (1 × 3.5) − (7/8 + 1/8)(1)
= 2.5 in.2 > 2.414 in.2 (OK)
Check the slenderness ratio:
3.5(1)3
Imin = = 0.2917 in.4
12
A = 1(3.5) = 3.5 in.2

From I = Ar2 , we obtain

r
Imin
= 0.2887 in.2 and
rmin =
A
L 5.75(12)
Maximum = = 239 < 300 (OK)
r 0.2887
∴ Use a PL 1 × 3 12 .
Remarks

Example 3.11 shows that after the required area has been
determined, the procedure is the same for both LRFD and
ASD.
Also, in this example the required areas are virtually the same
for LRFD and ASD, since L/D ≈ 3
the member is less than 8 inches wide, thus, it is a bar rather
than a plate, bars are specified to the nearest 1/4 inch in
width and to the nearest 1/8 inch in thickness
PL (Plate) designation is common practice for both bars and
plates