TENSION MEMBERS

STEEL DESIGN
TENSION MEMBERS
➔ Tension members are structural elements that are subjected to axial
tensile forces.
➔ They are used in various types of structures and include truss members,
bracing for buildings and bridges, cables in suspended roof systems, and
cables in suspension and cable-stayed bridges.
➔ Any cross-sectional configuration may be used, because for any given
material, the only determinant of the strength of a tension member is the
cross-sectional area.
TENSION MEMBERS
➔ PLATES IN TENSION BOLTS
TENSION MEMBERS
➔ PLATES IN TENSION BOLTS
TENSION MEMBERS
➔ ANGLES IN TENSION BOLTS
ANALYSIS OF TENSION MEMBERS
➔ Tension Member Failure Modes

The tensile load is uniform along the length of a member. Since the net
cross‐section is smallest at the bolted connection, the stress is highest in
this location. As the tensile load on a member is increased, the steel
adjacent to the bolt holes yields first. Since the bolt holes represent a
small segment of the overall length of the member, the elongation due to
the yielding adjacent to the bolt holes is negligible.
ANALYSIS OF TENSION MEMBERS
➔ As load continues to increase, one of the following occurs:

◆ the gross section yields, possibly leading to excessive deformation

◆ the cross section through the bolt holes ruptures, resulting in a loss of integrity of the
structure
ANALYSIS OF TENSION MEMBERS
➔ As load continues to increase, one of the following occurs:

◆ a cross section through the bolt holes fails in a combination of shear and tension called,
block shear
Rupture Failure
TENSION MEMBERS
Whenever a member is subjected to a tensile force and assuming tension governs, the member will
fail at the critical section. This critical section is the path across the section that produces the
minimum area.
The direct stress formula is the basis for tension member analysis (and design). It may be written for
stress,
Ft = P/A
or for tensile capacity,
Pt = FtꞏA
Where:
ft = computed tensile stress
P = applied axial load
Pt= axial tensile load capacity (or maximum allowable axial tensile load)
Ft = allowable axial tensile stress
A = cross-sectional area of axially loaded tension member (either gross area Ag, net area An, or
effective net area Ae)
TENSION MEMBERS
Gross area Ag is the original, unaltered cross-sectional area of the member.
An, net area, is illustrated in Figure and is logically the cross-sectional area
actually available to be stressed in tension.
NSCP
2015
NSCP
2015
NSCP
2015
NSCP
2015
NSCP
2015
Shear lag
Shear lag occurs when some elements of the cross section are not connected, as when only one leg
of an angle is bolted to a gusset plate. The consequence of this partial connection is that the
connected element becomes overloaded and the unconnected part is not fully stressed.

Because shear lag affects both bolted and welded connections, the effective net area concept applies
to both types of connections.
Sample Problem 1
A PL 3/8 x 7 tension member is
connected with three 1” diameter bolts
as shown. Assume that Ae = An and
compute the following:

The design strength for LFRD.

The allowable strength for ASD.
Ans. Problem 1
Sample Problem 2
Given the following data of the slip-critical
tension connection shown:
Plate (A36):
Fy = 248 Mpa
FU = 400 MPa
bolts:
22-mm-diameter A325 in standard holes
with threads excluded from shear planes.
Dead load, PD = 450 kN
Considering the plates only, compute the
safe live load PL. Use LRFD
Ans. Problem 2
Sample Problem 3
A single-angle tension member, an L90 x 90 x 10, is connected to a gusset
plate with 22 mm diameter bolts as shown. A 36 steel is used.
The service loads are 155 kN dead load and 67 kN live load.
Investigate this member for compliance with the AISC Specification. Assume
that the effective net area is 85% of the computed net area. Use ASD.
Ans. Problem 3
Sample Problem 4
Determine the safe load that
could be carried by the main
tension member shown. Its cross
section has 2 bolt holes in each
flange.
Also determine the permissible
unsupported length of the
member. Bolt diameter is 22 mm.

Fy = 248 MPa and Fu = 400 MPa.