Design of Tension Members

Tensile Strength: (NSCP, 2010)

Design tensile strength = фt Pn for LRFD (Load Resistance and Factor Design)
Allowable tensile strength = Pn / Ωt for ASD (Allowable Stress Design)
where фt = resistance factor
Ωt = safety factor
Pn = nominal tensile strength Sectional lines
for An for Ag
Nominal tensile strength: (NSCP, 2010)
A. Tension members other than pin-connected
1. For Tension yielding in the gross section (Ag ) P P
P n = Fy A g (504.2-1)
ф = 0.9 for LRFD and Ωt = 1.67 for ASD
2. For Tensile rupture in the net section rivet or bolt
P n = Fu A e (504.2-2)
фt = 0.75 for LRFD) and Ωt = 2.0 for ASD pin
B. For pin-connected members:
1. For tensile rupture on the net effective area
Pn = 2tbeff Fu (504.5-1)
фt = 0.75 for LRFD and Ωt = 2.0 for ASD
2. For shear rupture on the effective area P P
Pn = 0.60 Fu Asf (504.5-2)
фsf = 0.75 for LRFD and Ωsf = 2.0 for ASD
 Ag = gross area,
= gross width x thickness (at section without holes)
= Wg t
For angles : Wg = sum of width of legs less the thickness
Ae = effective area
= An U (504.3-1)
An = net area
= net width x thickness (at section with holes)
= Wn t
U = shear lag factor ( See Table 504.3.1, NSCP 2010)
Fy = specified minimum yield stress
Fu = specified minimum tensile strength
See Table 2-8 (Dit Gillasana) for values of Fy and Fu for different steel materials
Asf = 2t(a + d/2)
a = shortest distance from edge of the pinhole to the edge of the member
measured parallel to the direction of the force.
beff = 2t + 16mm but not more than the actual distance from the edge of the
hole to the edge of the part measured in the direction normal to the
applied force
d = pin diameter
t = thickness of the plate.
 s1
Net Area, An : ( at section with rivet or bolt holes)

An = net width x thickness

= Wn t ≤ 0.85 Ag
g1
In the general case of staggered holes: P
g2
Wn = W g - ∑ фholes + ∑ (s2/4g)
or
An = A g - ∑ (фholes )t + ∑ (s2/4g)t
s2
where:
diameter of hole, фhole = фrivet/bolt + 2.0mm
s = pitch, longitudinal center-to-center spacing of
any two consecutive holes
g = gage, transverse spacing between fasteners gage lines.

If holes are not staggered, pitch is zero and A n = A g - ∑ (фholes )t

The critical An is obtained from that path or chain of holes

which gives the least An.
Effective Net Area, Ae :

Ae = U An where U = reduction coeffecient (if the member is not connected to the support
on all segments, e.g. an angle connected to the
support only on one of its legs)

Table 2-9 – Values of reduction coeffecient, U (shear lag factor) (old NSCP)

Type of members minimum number of fasteners U

per line in the direction of tension

a) All segment are connected to transmit load 1 1

b) W, M, S sections with bf/d ≥ 2/3 3 0.90

and connected to flange

c) Tees with bf/d ≥ 4/3 3 0.90

and connected to flange

d) W, M, or S sections not meeting (b) 3 0.85

Tees not meeting (c)
other shapes and built-up sections
e) All other sections 2 0.75
Bearing Strength at Bolt Holes: (NSCP 2010)
Design bearing strength = фRn for LRFD
Allowable bearing strength = Rn / Ω for ASD
where ф = 0.75
Ω = 2.00

1. For bolts in a connection with standard, oversized, and short-slotted holes,

independent of the direction of loading, or on a long-slotted hole with the slot parallel to
the bearing load direction:

a. When the deformation at the bolt hole at service load is a design consideration
Rn = 1.20 Lc t F u ≤ 2.4 dt F u
b. When the deformation at the bolt hole at service load is not a design consideration
Rn = 1.50 Lc t F u ≤ 3.0 dt F u

c. For a bolt in a connection with long-slotted holes with the slot perpendicular to the
direction of the force.
Rn = 1.00 Lc t F u ≤ 2.0 dt F u where

d = diameter of bolt L c = clear distance in the direction of the force, between

t= thickness of the plate the edge of the hole and the edge of the adjascent
hole or edge of the material.
Analysis of axially loaded Bolted/Riveted connections in Tension:

1. Check tension on Gross Area

Actual ft = P/Ag
Allowable Ft = Fy / 1.67 = 0.6Fy for ASD

2. Check tension on Net Area

Actual ft = P/Ae
Allowable Ft = Fu/ 2.0 = 0.5 Fu for ASD

3. Check shear on rivets or bolts single shear double shear

Actual fv = P/Av
Av = Abolt x number of bolts (for single shear)
= 2 Abolt x number of bolts (for double shear)
Fv = see allowable shear for rivet or bolt.
4. Check bearing on rivet/plate
Actual fp = P/Ap
Ap = ∑(bolt diameter x plate thickness)
Allowable Fp = 1.20 Fu when deformation of the bolt hole is At
a design consideration
= 1.50 Fu when deformation of the bolt hole is
not a design consideration P
5. Check combined shear and tearing (Shear rupture or block shear) Av
P = Fv Av + Ft At
Allowable Fv = 0.6 Fu/ 2.0 = 0.3Fu
Allowable Ft = Fu/ 2.0 = 0.5Fu
Problem: A plate with a width of 300 mm and thickness of 20mm is to be connected to two
plates of the same width and half the thickness by 25mm diameter rivets. The
rivet holes are 2mm larger than the rivet diameter. The plate is A36 steel with
Fy = 248 MPa and Fu = 500 Mpa. The rivet is A502, Grade 2, hot driven rivets with
allowable shearing stress of 150 Mpa. Determine the maximum load P that can
be applied without exceeding the allowable stresses. Ignore block shear. Assume
that deformation at bolt hole is a design consideration. Use ASD.
Figure:
P

P/2

P/2

300mm

20mmthick
P/2
P
P/2
Solution:
diameter of hole = 25mm + 2mm = 27mm P P/4
By tension on gross area of main plate:
P = A g Ft where Ft = 0.60 Fy P
P = (300)(20)(0.60)(248)
P = 892.8 kN.

By tension on net area of main plate

P = An Ft where Ft = 0.50 Fu
An = [300 – 2(27)]20 = 4920mm2 ≤ 0.85Ag ( =5100mm2 )
P P
P = 4920(0.50)(500)
P = 1230 kN

By shearing of rivets (double shear)

P/4 = 2(A V)(F V ) where Fv = 150MPa for A502, Grade 2, hot driven rivets
Av = ∏(25)2/4 = 490.874mm2
P = 8(490.874)(150) P/8
P = 589.049 kN P/4
( or P/8 = AV F v , which means that P/8 is resited by one Av , P/8
and the answer is the same)
By bearing of rivet on main plate:
P/4 = Ap Fp where Fp = 1.2 FU
Ap = diameter of rivet x thickness of plate P/4 t = 20mm.
P = 4(25)(20)(1.2)(500)
P = 1,200.00 kN

therefore the safe P = 589.049 kN.

Note: Since the thickness of the splice plates is half that of the main plate, and
their tensile force is also half that of the main plate, analysis of the splice
plates will yield the same answer as that of the main plate.