Design of

Tension Members
 Design of
Tension Members
Tension Member

A tension member transmits a direct axial pull between two points in a structural frame.

Tension capacity is determined by

1. Material properties
2. The presence of holes
3. Connection eccentricity
Material Properties:
In most design situations strength is simply based on the yield strength given in
Table 9 of the code.

For the case where tensile load is applied

along the centroidal axis, the tension
capacity is given by:

Pt = Ae ×Py Cl 4.6.1

Where:
Ae is the effective area of the member
cross-section Py is the member design strength
Tension Member
Effective area in tension:
If no holes in member Cl 3.4.3
Ae = Ag

If there are holes, cross section will be reduced and the effective net area ae

ae=ke x an < ag

Where,
ke = 1.2 for S275 steel an = net area of member
Ke = 1.1 for S355 steel ag = gross area of member
Ke = 1.0 for S460 steel Ae = sum of the effective net area ae
Example 1
If the factored tension force applied is 1300 KN is the above tension
capacity adequate ? What is your suggestion.
Not adequate and By looking to
Pt = Ae ×Py = 1.2 An Py
An = Ag – nh x hd* tp
suggest to do one of more of the following

Change Py to higher grade. Or increase the net area ( An) by one

of the follows.
1. Reduce the hole size An = Ag – nh hdtp
2. Reduse the number of holes
3. Stagger the holes. An = Ag – nh hdtp + t S2 /4g
Staggered Holes:

The code at section 3.4.4.3 describes how staggered holes across the line of net area should be
considered for calculating the effective area.
Staggered Holes:

The code at section 3.4.4.3 describes how staggered holes across the line of net area should
be considered for calculating the effective area.
Effect of Staggered Holes

• Whenever there is more than one hole and the holes are not lined up
transverse to the loading direction, more than one potential failure line
may exist.
• The controlling failure line is that line which gives the minimum net area.
• In the figure, tension members were assumed to fail transversely along
line AB in Fig 1a or 1b.
• Fig 1C shows a member in which a failure other than a transverse
one is possible.
• In Fig 1c, which is showing two line of staggered holes, the failure
line might be through one hole ( section ABE) or it might be along
a diagonal path ABCD.

• At first glance, one might think section ABE is critical since the path
ABE is obviously shorter that path ABCD.

• However, from path ABE, only one hole would be deducted while
two holes would be deducted from path ABCD.

• Both paths of ABE and ABCD must be investigated.

Example 2
Allowance for eccentricity:

If members are connected eccentric to their axes, the resulting moments

should generally be allowed for in accordance with section cl.4.8.2. ( as
shown below)
 𝐹 𝑀𝑥 𝑀𝑦
+ + ≤1
𝐴ⅇ𝑃𝑦 𝑀𝑐𝑥 𝑀𝐶𝑦

𝐹 𝑀𝑥 𝑀𝑦
+ + ≤1
𝐴ⅇ𝑃𝑦 𝑀𝑐𝑥 𝑀𝐶𝑦

F = The applied Force

𝑀𝑥 , 𝑀𝑦 = The applied moment in major and minor axis

𝑀𝑐𝑥 , 𝑀𝑐𝑦 = Moment capacity of in major and minor axis

𝑀𝑐 = 𝑃𝑦𝑆 ≤ 1.2𝑃𝑦𝑧
However, angles, channels or T-sections with eccentric end connections may be treated as
axially loaded by using the reduced tension capacity given in section cl.4.6.3.
Example 3: Design a single angle to carry a dead load of 70kN and an
imposed load of 35kN
Design strength from Table 9 in the code py = 275N/mm2
 Quiz for you to do
1: Design the most economical single angle with one row of bolt
size M20 to carry a dead load of 110 kN and an imposed
load of 65 kN.

2: Design a the most economical single welded angle to carry a

dead load of 130kN and an imposed load of 70kN.
Example 4 : Design a single angle tie for the member
AB shown.
Summary of design procedure:

1. Select section and grade of steel.

2. Determine the gross area.
3. Calculate the net area. Cl. 3.4.2
4. Calculate the effective area. Cl. 3.4.3
5. Calculate the tension capacity:
6. For axially loaded members, calculate the tension
capacity using the effective area. Cl. 4.6.1

7. For simple members with eccentric connections, calculate the tension capacity based on a
reduced effective area. Cl. 4.6.3

8. For members subject to combined tension and bending,

check the adequacy under combined loading Cl 4.6.2 & Cl. 4.8.2
Quiz:
Determine the axial resistance of an 75x50x8 mm, angle section when it is used as a tie, the
end connection being a single row of M20 bolts through the longer leg. Assume steel of design
strength py=275 N/mm2.