Tension Members Worked Examples
Example 2.1.
Calculate the net critical area for the bolt distribution shown below.
Solution:
Chain (1): (two holes) Anet = 15 x 0.5 – 2 x 1 x 0.5 = 6.5 cm2.
32
Chain (2): (four holes, two staggers) Anet 15x0.5 4 x1x0.5 2 x x0.5 6.25 cm 2
4 x3
Chain (3): (five holes, four staggers)
32 42
Anet 15x0.5 5 x1x0.5 2 x x0.5 2 x x0.5 7.085 cm 2
4 x3 4 x3
Chain (4) Anet = 15 x 0.5 – 3x1 x 0.5 =6 cm2.
Therefore, the Net Critical Area = 6 cm2.
Example 2.2 (Design Example)
Calculate the maximum design load for the plate of the example 2.1. Steel grade S275.
Solution:
1. The design plastic resistance of the gross section.
Gross area Ag = 15 x 0.5 = 7.5 cm2
Yield strength fy = 25.5 kN/cm2 (Table 3.1, EN1993-1-1).
Partial safety factor γMO = 1.0
7.5 x 25.5
N pl , Rd 191.25 kN
1.0
2. The design ultimate resistance of the section at the bolt holes.
Effective area Anet = 6 cm2.
Ultimate strength fu = 41.0 kN/cm2 (Table 3.1, EN1993-1-1).
Partial safety factor γM2 = 1.25
0.9 x6 x 41
N u , Rd 177.12 kN
1.25
Therefore, the maximum design force is 177.12 kN.
1
Tension Members Worked Examples
Example 2.3.
Determine the design strength of two angles 100 x 100 x 10 in grade S275 used as a welded
bracing member.
Solution:
Area of one angle = 1920mm2
S275 → fy = 275MPa and fu = 430MPa
Because there are no holes (welded connection), only design plastic resistance must be checked.
The partial safety factor for the section γM1 = 1.0
The design plastic resistance is:
Af y 1920x275
N pl , Rd 2x 1056000 N 1056 kN .
MO 1.0
Example 2.4.
Determine the design strength for the two angles of the Example 2.3. if now are used as a bolted
bracing member with single row of 18 mm holes at each leg of the angle.
Solution
From Example 2.3. the design plastic resistance is 1056kN. The ultimate design resistance
calculated as follows:
The partial safety factor is γM2 = 1.25
The effective area is the net area. Anet = 3840 – 4 x 16.5 x 10 = 3180 mm2
0.9 Anet f u 0.9 x3180x 430
N u , Rd 984528 N 984.528 kN
M2 1.25
Therefore, the design strength of the bolted bracing member is controlled by the ultimate
strength of the section.
Thus, Nt,Rd = 984.528 kN.
2
Tension Members Worked Examples
Example 2.5.
Check the section used as a main tie of the roof truss shown in the Figure below. The section is
formed with 2 unequal leg angle 100 x 75 x8 mm. Steel grade S275 is used. The joint was made
with 7 bolts with diameter 20 mm as shown. The acting tensile force is 630 kN.
Steel Grade S275 fy = 275 MPa = 27.5 kN/cm2
fu = 430 MPa = 43.0 kN/cm2
Gross area for one angle = 13.5 cm2 (for L100 x 75 x 8)
do = d + 2 = 20 + 2 = 22 mm
Solution:
1). Plastic resistance of the gross section:
13.50x 27.5
N pl , Rd 2 x 742.5 kN
1.0
2). Ultimate resistance of the net section at the bolt holes.
Calculation of the Anet.
Chain (1) Anet 16.7 x0.8 1x2.2 x0.8 11.6cm 2
Chain (2) Anet 16.7 x0.8 2x2.2 x0.8 2x 3.52 (4 x4.1) 10.44cm 2 , governs!
Take Anet to be 2 x 10.44cm2 = 20.88 cm2 for two angles
Calculation of Nu, Rd.
0.9 x 20.88x 43
N u , Rd 646.44 kN
1.25
The design tensile resistance (Nt,Rd) is taken to be 646.44kN.
Checking for the maximum slenderness ratio.
Slenderness ratio (λ) = Le/ r ;
Where, Le is effective length = 3m (the effective length of member wz section 1-1) = 3000mm
r is radius of gyration = 1.6cm (minimum radius of gyration) = 16mm
3
Tension Members Worked Examples
Slenderness ratio (λ) = 3000 / 16 = 178.5 < 300 OK.
Conclusion
The design tension resistance capacity of the cross-section is 646.44 kN, therefore, because
646.44 kN > 630 kN, the section 1-1 used for design is adequate.
Example 2.6.
A flat bar 200mm wide and 25mm thick, is to be used as a tie. Erection conditions require that
the bar be constructed from two lengths connected together with a lap splice using six M20 bolts,
as shown in the following figure. Calculate the tensile strength of the bar assuming grade S275
steel.
Solution
Cross section resistance in tension is covered in clause 6.2.3 of EN1993-1-1, with reference to
clause 6.2.2 of EN1993-1-1 for the calculation of cross section properties.
For a nominal material thickness (t=25mm) of less than or equal to 40mm the nominal value of
yield strength, fy, and ultimate tensile strength, fu, are found from Table 3.1 of EN1993-1-1 to be
275 and 430 N/mm2, respectively.
The numerical values of the required partial factors recommended by EN1993-1-1 are
and .
Gross area of cross section
A = 25 x 200 = 5000 mm2
In determining the net area, Anet is the smaller of:
Path A-A, Anet = 5000 - 22 x 25 = 4450 mm2.
s2 902
Path A-B, Anet = 5000 - t nd o 5000 25x 2 x 22 =440mm2.
4p 4 x100
Therefore, the net area of the cross-section, Anet is 4406 mm2.
4
Tension Members Worked Examples
Fig: Lap splice in tension member with a staggered bolt arrangement
The design plastic ultimate resistance of the net cross section
5000x 275
N pl , Rd 1375kN
1.00
The design ultimate resistance of the net cross section
0.9 x 4406x 430
N u , Rd 1364kN
1.25
The tensile resistance, Nt,Rd, as the smaller of Npl,Rd (1375kN) and Nu,Rd (1364kN).
Therefore, Nt,Rd = 1364kN.
