STEEL DESIGN

COURSE CODE: 0401-418

CHAPTER

Analysis of Tension Members

TEXT BOOK, STRUCTURAL STEE DESIGN, JOHN McCormack
 Tension Structures
▪ Members are subjected to pure tension.
▪ Tensile stresses are uniformly distributed over the cross
sectional area of the member.
▪ Martial is utilized in the most effective manner.

Suspension Bridge

Shell

Cable Stayed Bridge

Tension Structures

RHINE BRIDGE, COLOGNE-RODENKIRCHEN, (1946-47),

SPAN 94.5 -378- 94.5 m
 Tension Structures

▪ Tension members are found in

– Bridges and roof trusses
– Towers
– Bracing systems
– Cases where they are used as tie rods
▪ The design of tension members is very simple and
straightforward.
▪ No buckling problems are encountered as in the case of
compression members
 Tension Members
Structural steel members subjected to tension can be of different
sections:
▪ Circular Rods: Used frequently in the past, but occasionally now
only in bracing systems, light trusses and timber construction.
From practical perspective, it is difficult to connect the rods to many
structures.
 Tension Members

▪ Cables: Commonly used in suspension bridges, cable stayed

bridges and roofs. Steel cables have high strength ( from 200 to
250 ksi) and are made from special steel alloy wires that are cold
drawn to the desired diameter.
▪ Standard Sections: All the sections mentioned in Chapter 1 can be
used as tension members. Standard sections are stiffer and easier
to connect to other members.
Nominal Strength of Tension Members

The strength of a tension member can be governed by either:

▪ Yielding of the gross cross-section of the member away
from the connection, or
▪ Fracture of the effective net area at the connection
(through the holes)
1. Yielding of the Gross Cross Sectional Area

Based on LRFD Specifications, when the strength of a

tension member is governed by general yielding of the gross
cross-section of the member ( such as the case of tension
members without holes), the nominal strength Pn of the
member is given as:

Fy : Yield Stress of the Steel

Ag : Gross Cross Sectional Area of the Member
 2. Fracture of the Net Area (Members with Holes)
Based on LRFD Specifications, For tension members with holes
such as with rivets or bolts,
▪ When the strength of the member is governed by fracture of
the effective area at the connection (through the holes), the
reduced area is referred as net area.
▪ There will be stress concentration due to the presence of the holes.
 2. Fracture of the Net Area (Members with Holes)
▪ Tensile stresses adjacent to the hole will be about 3 times the
average tensile stress on the net area.

▪ However, as each fiber reaches yield strain (εy= Fy/Es), its

stress becomes a constant Fy with continuous deformation
due to increasing load until finally all fibers have achieved or
exceeded the yield strain εy
 2. Fracture of the Net Area (Members with Holes)

Based on LRFD Specifications,

▪ When the strength of a tension member with holes is
controlled by a localized yielding resulting in a fracture of
the effective area, the nominal strength Pn of the
member is given as:
Table 1: Applicable ASTM Specifications for Various Structural Shapes
 The Net Area: An

▪ Notice that when fasteners such as rivets or bolts are used

to connect tension members there must be holes.

▪ The presence of holes reduces the total cross sectional area

available to resist tensile stresses.

▪ It also reduces the strength of the member depending of the

size and location of the holes.

▪ The total cross sectional area minus the holes is referred to

as the net area

NB: fasteners=connector
 Computation of the Net Area An

❖ The area of the hole is dealt with as a rectangular and determined

as follows:

th

dh

For fasteners in standard holes,

dh : Diameter of the fastener + 1/8 in (3.2 mm)
tp : Plate thickness
Computation of the Net Area An
 Example 1

Determine the net cross sectional area for the tension member shown
Solution
 Example 2

Determine the net cross sectional area of the 3/8 x8 – in plate

shown below if it is connected at its end by tow lines of ¾ in bolts.
Solution
Example 3

Determine the net cross sectional area of the tension member

whose cross section is depicted in the figure below:
Solution

For a WT 12x31 section the following properties can be obtained

from the Steel Design Manual
 Solution

For a WT 12x31 section the following properties can be obtained

from the Steel Design Manual 9.11 in2

Therefore, 9.11 in2

= 9.11 - 7.7 in2

 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
Effect of Staggered Holes

Figure 2
 Effect of Staggered Holes

❖ 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 ABCD.
 Effect of Staggered Holes

❖ To determine the controlling section, both paths ABE and

ABCD should be investigated.

❖ Accurate checking of strength along ABCD 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 • S is the longitudinal
spacing (pitch)
• g is the transverse
spacing (gage)
 Effect of Staggered Holes

❖ 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
s
 Effect of Staggered Holes

❑ The controlling section is the one that gives the least

value after subtracting the holes and adding the quantity

ABE E

ABE
Effect of Staggered Holes
Example 4

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 5

Determine the minimum net area of the plate shown

assuming 15/16-in diameter holes, and the holes are
punched for non standard holes (hint: add 1/16 in)

2 ½ in

2 ½ in
Solution

From the figure and g = 2.5 in and 4 in.

The critical section could possibly be:
ABCD, ABECD or ABEFG
Solution

ABECD
Solution

ABEFG
Example 6

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 7

Determine the net area of the W12x16 shown below.

The holes are pouched for 1-in bolts
Solution

3” B
t w- 0.22 ” 3” C
3”
D
3”
E
2”
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

Controls
 Example 8

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
 Effective Net Area, Ae

Remember!
Failure of Members under Pure Tension

Yield of gross cross section Fracture of the area at the

(Welded members) connection (Bolted members)
 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.
Effective Net Area, Ae

❖ 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:
X

as computed previously
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
Connection Eccentricity for Angles
Connection Eccentricity for W, S, M, HP Sections
Connection Eccentricity for Channel and Angle Sections
A) Bolted Connections
❖ is always from the plane of load transfer (plane of
connection) to the center of gravity of the section
❖ In a 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 9

LRFD

b f = 8.02 ” A

t f 0.62 ”

10.1”

B 4” 4”
Solution
Solution
Example 10 (Reading Assignment)
Example 10 (Reading Assignment)
Effective Net Area, Ae

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 member Ag.

(Table 3.2, Case 2).,

L is the length in the direction of Load
Effective Net Area, Ae

• 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).
 Effective Net Area, Ae

• 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 11

❖ 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 A529 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 (Table 1, 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 12

❖ 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 13

PL 3/8 x 12
Solution
Solution
Block Shear

▪ The design strength of tension members is not always

governed by:

Or by the strength of the bolt or weld by which the

member is connected.
▪ The design strength may instead by controlled by its
block shear strength as to be discussed herein.
Block Shear

The failure of a
member may
occur along a
path involving
tension on one
plane and
shear on a
perpendicular
plane.
Block Shear
 Block Shear
• When the tensile load applied to a particular connectionn is
increased, the fracture strength of the weaker plane will be
approached.
• That plane will not fall because it restrained by the stronger plane.
• The load can be increased until the fracture strength of the
stronger plane will be reached.
• During this time the weaker plane is in yielding.
• The total strength of the connection equals the fracture
strength of stronger plane plus the yield strength of the weaker
plane.
• However, it is not realistic to add the fracture strength of one
plane to the fracture strength of the other plane to determine
the block shear capacity of a particular member.
Block Shear

The failure of a member may occur along a path involving tension

on one plane and shear on a perpendicular plane.
Case 1: Shear Failure

This member has larger shear area and a smaller

tensile area. Therefore the primary resistance to
block shear failure is shearing and not tensile

Shear Failure: Shear Fracture + Tensile Yield

Case 2: Tension Failure

This member has large tensile area and a small

shear area. Therefore the block shear failure
will be tensile and not shearing.

Tension Failure: Tensile Fracture + Shear Yield

 Block Shear Strength

• The AISC Specification states that the available strength Rn

for the block shear rupture design strength is as follows:

=
Block Shear Design
 Example 14
The A572 Grade 50 (Fu = 65 ksi) tension member shown is
connected with three 3/4-in bolts. Determine the LRFD block shear
rupture strength and the LRFD design tensile strength of the
member
Solution
Solution
Solution
 Example 15
Determine the LRFD design strength of the A36 (Fy = 36 ksi, Fu
= 58 ksi) plates shown in Figure. Include block shear strength
in the calculations.
Solution
(a) Gross section Yielding
1
Pn =  Fy Ag = (0.9)(36ksi )( in  10in) = 162 k Controls
2
(b) Tensile Rupture Strength
1
Pn =  Fu Ae = (0.75)(58ksi )(1)( in 10in) = 217.5 k
2
U = 1 case 2 Tale 3.2
(c) Block Shear Strength

Rn =  0.6 Fu Anv + U bs Fu Ant   0.6 Fy Agv + U bs Fu Ant 

1 1
Agv =  2  4 = 4.00 in 2 , Anv = 4.00 in 2 , Ant = 10 = 5.00 in 2
2 2
U bs = 1.0
Rn = (0.6)(58)(4) + (1)(58)(5) = 429.2k
 (0.6)(36)(4) + (1)(58)(5) = 376.4k
 Rn = 0.75  376.4 = 282.3k
 Take Home Problem
Determine the LRFD
tensile design
strength of the
W12x30
(Fy = 50 ksi, Fu = 65
ksi) shown in the
Figure, if 7/8 in bolts
are used in the
connection. Check
Block Shear
Calculations for the
flanges.
Take Home Problem
Answers:
Questions ?