CE-421: Design of Steel Structures

Design of Tension Members

 Tension Members
ANYBODY REMEMBER WHAT WE WERE
STUDYING BEFORE THE BREAK ?

Tensile Strength Evaluation of Steel Members…..

Using AISC EQUATIONS and the Possible Failure Modes

Failure Modes of Ten. Members : 1) Yielding; 2) Fracture

 Tension Members
➢Differences in the Two Failure Modes of a
Tension Member

▪ Yielding: Failure Occurs with Large

Elongation / Deformations
▪ Fracture: Failure Occurs with Negligible
Elongation / Deformations

➢Yielding is Actually a Ductile Failure Mode

While Fracture is Actually a Brittle Failure
Mode
 Tension Members
• The Two Failure modes

❑ Yielding
Failure usually happens
in the out-of-connection
region of Specimen

Failure usually happens

❑ Fracture at the connection regions

Stress are Already Higher

& Reach Fu Quickly
 Tension Members
In Real Structures Yielding Occurs Away from
Bolted Connections While Fracture Occurs Within
Bolted Connections

Fracture
Yielding
 Tension Members

Fracture
Yielding

Which Failure Mode Occurs First or Actually?

Whichever Requires Lesser Force to Cause it

 Tension Members
Tensile Capacity ‘ΦPn’ Or Tensile Failure Load ‘Pu’
Yielding
Pn = Stress x Area

Φ Pn = Φ Ag Fy

Fracture
Pn = Stress x Area

Φ Pn = Φ Ae Fu
where is the effective net area, which may be equal to
either the net area or, in some cases, a smaller area.
 Tension Members
LRFD Design Approach for Tension Members:
The factored tensile load is compared to the design
strength. The design strength is the resistance factor times
the nominal strength.

For tension members, this can be written as

Where Pu is the governing Tension from Loads. The

resistance factor Φt is as follows:
For Yielding
For Fracture
 Tension Members
LRFD Design Approach (Summary):
➢ As there are two limit states, both of the following
conditions must be satisfied.

➢ The smaller of the Above two Strengths is the

Actual Design Strength of the Tension Member.
 Tension Members
MORE COMPLICATIONS IN FRACTURE
FAILURE MODE !

WHEN ALL ELEMENTS OF CROSS-SECTION

NOT CONNECTED TO THE CONNECTIONS

SHEAR LAG EFFECT

 Tension Members
Partially Connected Tension Members:

Connected
Element

Un-Connected
Element

Un-Connected Elements or
Portions of X-section Will Be
Less Stressed At Connection
than the Connected Legs
 Tension Members
➢ Last Lecture ends at the Phenomena of Shear Lag Effect
and its Impact on the Prediction of Design Strength or
Capacity of a Tension Member.
➢ It was Concluded that because of Shear Lag Some Portion
of X-Section is in-effective in taking the Stresses and
therefore the use of Gross X-section Area in predicting the
Tensile Capacity is Not Justified. P= σ .A
➢ So the X-section Area is reduced by applying a Reduction
factor ‘U’ called ‘Shear Lag Factor’ But the Stress used
will be the Ultimate Tensile Strength ‘Fu’ because of
Stress Concentration Effect in Connection Regions
 Shear Lag Effect … Effective Area

C Channel with Two

Flanges Connected,
but Not Web

Angle Iron Connected

with One Leg Only
 Shear Lag Effect … Effective Area
➢ You can Experience it by Pulling an Angled shaped
Member but Picking it Only from its One Leg

➢Therefore Whole Cross-sectional Area is Not

Taking the Stresses, What Area to be Used in the
Formula for Fracture Strength ?
Φ Pn = Φ An Fu

➢Area Less Than Physical Net Area is Actually

Stressed so a Lesser Area is to be Used Here
 Shear Lag Effect … Effective Area
➢This Brings the Concept of Effective Net Area
(Ae) Rather Net Area (An)

A e = U An

➢‘U’ is the SHEAR LAG Factor

➢ ‘U’ is Applied when All the Elements of Cross-

section Are NOT Connected to the Connection

➢‘U’ is Provided by the AISC Code U≤ 1

& it is Always
 Shear Lag Effect … Effective Area
➢ Any type of Tension Member, Except Plates & Round
HSS with Length Lesser Or Equal to 1.3 of Diameter:

= Distance From the Centroid of Tension Member to

the Nearest Plane / Surface of Connection
= Length of Connection. Distance between Start and
End of Connector in the Direction of Tension Force
 Shear Lag Effect … Effective Area
➢ Examples of
 Shear Lag Effect … Effective Area
➢ Examples of

➢ Centre to Centre – From First Bolt to Last Bolt

Along the Direction of Tension Force
 Shear Lag Effect … Effective Area
➢ Examples of

➢ Longest Length of Weld Along the Direction of Force

Transverse Weld Longitudinal Welds

• Longitudinal Welds are Along the Force Direction

• Transverse Welds are Perpendicular to the Force Direction
 Shear Lag Effect … Effective Area
➢ The KEY to determine Shear Lag factor is divided into
following five categories:
 Shear Lag Effect … Effective Area
➢ Shear Lag Factor for Plates :
• U = 1 for All Plates Connected Using Bolts

• U = 1 If Transverse Weld is Provided

• For Plates Connected Using Welds
• U is as Follows for Longitudinal Sides Welds
 Shear Lag Effect … Effective Area
➢ Shear Lag Factor for Welded Plates :

l
l
 Shear Lag Effect … Effective Area
➢ Round HSS with Weld Length Greater Than 1.3 of its
Diameter:
 Shear Lag Effect … Effective Area
➢ Rectangular HSS with Weld Length Greater Than 1.3
of its Diameter:
 Shear Lag Effect … Effective Area
➢ Rectangular HSS with Weld Length Greater Than 1.3
of its Diameter:
 Shear Lag Effect … Effective Area
➢ AISC Allows Alternative Values of U for Single Angles,
W, M, S, HP & WT Sections instead of Using the Basic
Equation

➢ But Most of the Time These Gives Quite Conservative

Values
➢ So it is Recommended that These Should be Used in
The Design of Tension Member When Even The Details
of Connection is Not Known
Shear Lag Effect … Effective Area

Alternative Values of U for Single Angles

Shear Lag Effect … Effective Area
Alternative Values of U for Single Angles
Shear Lag Effect … Effective Area
Alternative Values of U for W, M, S, HP &
WT Sections
 Shear Lag Effect … Effective Area
➢ Alternative Values of U for W, M, S, HP & WT Sections
 Shear Lag Effect … Effective Area
➢ Alternative Values of U for W, M, S, HP & WT Sections
 Shear Lag Effect … Effective Area
Example

Solution

➢ Will There Be Any Shear Lag Here ???

 Shear Lag Effect … Effective Area
➢ Yes !! There Will Be Shear Lag Here Effect …
➢ Because The Member (Angle Iron) is Connected
Through Only One Leg to The Connection

➢ Find Net Area First. Then Find the Shear Lag factor
“U”
 Shear Lag Effect … Effective Area
➢ Then Find the Shear Lag factor “U”
 Shear Lag Effect … Effective Area
➢ Therefore the Corresponding “U” is Given By:
 Tension Members
➢ Slenderness Requirement
➢ AISC Requires Fulfilment of Slenderness Requirement
in addition to Strength Requirements. Following is
From AISC Code:
 Tension Members
➢ Find the Effective Area Ae & Tensile Strength of
W12x35 with A992 Steel, bolts are 5/8 in. diameter
➢ From Steel Manual Ag = 10.3 in2
➢ An = Ag – Cut-outs bc. Of Bolt
Holes Gusset Plates
➢ At any Section 4 Holes appear !

➢ An = 10.3 – [4 x { 5/8 + 1/8 }x 0.52]

➢ An = 8.74 in2
X’
➢ U = 1 – [ X’ / L ] ➢ X’ will be of Half I-Sec. (T-sec.)
➢ Properties of T-sec. will be Half of the I-Sec
➢ W12x35 will become WT – 6 x 17.5 X’
➢ Find X’ of Half T-sec. from manual
 Tension Members

➢ U = 1 – [ X’ / L ]
➢ X’ = 1.3 in.
X’
➢ L = Connection Length = 9”
L = 9”
➢ U = 1 – [ 1.3 / 9 ] = 0.855
L = 9”
➢ Compare U Actual with X’
Approximate U = 0.85
➢ bf / d = 6.56 / 12.5 < 2/3
➢ Ae = U An ➢ Ae = 0.855 x 8.74 = 7.47 in2

Now we can easily Calculate the Tensile Capacity or Tensile Strength

 Tension Members

➢ Therefore The Tensile Strength Corresponding to

Fracture Failure Mode is
ΦPn = 0.75 x Ae x Fu
ΦPn = 0.75 x 7.47 x 65 = 364 Kip

➢ The Failure load Corresponding to Yielding Failure

Mode is
ΦPn = 0.9 x Ag x Fy
ΦPn = 0.9 x 10.3 x 50 = 463 Kip

➢ The Tensile Strength of Member = 364 Kip

➢ Maximum Ultimate Tension that can be Applied = 364 Kip
 Tension Members
➢ Minimum Distance (c/c) between Two Adjacent Bolts

• According to AISC, Minimum c/c Distance

between Two bolts is 2.667 x Bolt Diameter
• Preferably, it can be
3 x Bolt Diameter

All These Distances MUST BE

AT LEAST 2.667 x Bolt Φ
 Tension Members

➢ Minimum Distance between Two Adjacent Bolts

 Tension Members
➢ Minimum Edge Distance from the Exterior Bolts to Nearest
Plate Edges.
 Tension Members
Staggered Bolts arrangement
➢ Bolts are Sometimes Arranged in Staggered Form to Reduce
the Connection Sizes

This Dimension is Smaller if Staggered Bolts Arrangement is

Selected, Compared to the Regular one
 Tension Members
➢ Staggered Fasteners
• Commonly Used ! …Economical
 Tension Members
Staggered Bolts Arrangement
➢How the Tension member Fails in this Case ?
• Possible Failure Planes

Out of All Possible failure Modes the Lowest Force Required to

Fail is Governing
 Tension Members
Staggered Bolts Arrangement

An Looks Small Because of Section 2 (Green) Contains 1

Shortest Straight Section Inclined Part But it
Contains 2 Bolt Holes to be
But it Contains Only 2 Bolt Holes Subtracted from Ag
Therefore for Staggered Bolts, Need to Check 2 – 3 Possible Failure
Sections & Find An for each & then Select the Smallest An in the
Capacity Equation …. How to include Inclined Effects ?
 Tension Members
Analyse All Possible Failure Planes, find the
Net Area An in Each and Select the Smallest An

Better to Find Area Net by Finding Net Width

x Plate Thickness
An = Wn x Plate Thickness

For Inclined Failure Planes, Assume that the Failure

Plane is Straight and the offset Bolts Aligned with
other Bolts .. Just Like Straight Bolts Arrangement
 Tension Members
But Since the Actual Failure Plane Contains
Inclined Portions and We Assume it Straight
Therefore Add A Factor S2 / 4g to the
Assumed (Not Actual) Straight Length of the
Failure Plane to Increase it
Then Find the Net Width Wn and the Net Area An
An = Wn x Plate Thickness
S = Horizontal Projected Distance b/w Bolt Rows
g = Projected Vertical Distance b/w Bolt Rows
 Tension Members
Staggered Bolts Arrangement

S = Horizontal Projected Distance b/w Bolt Rows

g = Projected Vertical Distance b/w Bolt Rows
 Tension Member - Staggered Bolts Arrangement

➢Net Area in Case of Staggered Fasteners

• The Net Area can be treated as the Product of Width and
Thickness of the member.
• Net Width can be calculated by deducting the holes
diameters in the failure plane and also increasing the net
width for the inclined plane effect by adding:
• S2 / 4g

• Add As many S2 / 4g as there are number of

inclined planes
 Tension Member - Staggered Bolts Arrangement

➢Example: Find SMALLEST Net Area in

Following Tension Member (Plate)
 Tension Members
Analyse All Possible Failure Planes, find the
Net Area in Each Case and Select the Smallest
Area Net …
Better to Find Area Net by Finding Net Width
x Plate Thickness
An = Wn x Plate Thickness

And then find the Shear Lag factor ‘U’ and Find
Area Effective ‘Ae’ and find the Smallest Strength
 Tension Member - Staggered Bolts Arrangement

➢Possible Failure Planes for Fracture Failure Mode

i a
3”
j b
5”
c
5”
f d
3” Plate Th. ¾”
h g e Bolts are 1” Dia.

3” 3” 3” 3” 3” 3”

Find the Net Area in Each Case and Select the

Smallest Area Net for Failure Prediction …
Tension Member - Staggered Bolts Arrangement

OR
Tension Member - Staggered Bolts Arrangement
 Tension Member - Staggered Bolts Arrangement
➢Find the Tensile Strength ΦPn of Channel C6x13

➢ Steel is A992
➢ Bolts are 5/8” Diameter
➢ Hole Diameter = { 5/8 + 1/8 } = 3/4”
 Tension Member - Staggered Bolts Arrangement
➢Failure Modes of Channel C6x13

➢ Fracture Failure Mode ➢ Yielding Failure Mode

• Can Fail Through a-b-e

• Can Fail Through a-b-c-d

 Tension Member - Staggered Bolts Arrangement

➢ Find the An along Failure Plane a-b-e

➢ One Hole Involve in the Failure Path

➢ Ae = Ag – 1 (Hole Dia x web Th.)

Ag & Web Th. Taken
➢ Ae = 3.81 – 1 (3/4 x 0.437) = 3.48 in2 from Steel Manual

➢ An along Failure Plane a-b-c-d

➢ Two Holes & One Inclined line Involve in the Failure Path
➢ Ae = Ag –[2(Hole Dia) x web Th.] + [1 (s2 / 4g)] x web Th.]
➢ Ae = 3.81 – [2 (3/4) x 0.437] + [(22 / 4 x 3) x 0.437] = 3.3 in2
 Tension Member - Staggered Bolts Arrangement

➢Tensile Capacity ФPn

➢Yielding Failure
Will ‘U’ Applies?
ΦPn = 0.9 x Ag x Fy
ΦPn = 0.9 x 3.81 x 50 = 171.45 Kip

➢Fracture Failure
ΦPn = 0.75 x Ae x Fu ➢ U = 1 – [ X’ / L ] = 1 – 0.514 / 8 = 0.93

ΦPn = 0.75 x (0.93 x 3.3) x 65 = 149.6 Kip

Tension Member - Staggered Bolts Arrangement
 Tension Member - Staggered Bolts Arrangement
Example 4

To Find Anet, Open The Channel The Channel Looks

& Assume it as Like a Flat Plate Like a Flat Plate
 Tension Members
THINK WHAT WILL BE THE TOTAL
WIDTH APPEARS AFTER OPENING OF
THE ANGLE !
 Staggered Bolts Arrangement

Working for Anet for Different Possible Failure Planes

Plate Th. ½”
 Tension Member - Staggered Bolts Arrangement

• LINE a-b-d-f
• Wn = Wg – 2 Holes = 13.5” - 2 x 1” = 11.5”
• LINE a-b-c-d-e-g
• Wn = Wg – 4 Holes = 13.5” – 4 x 1” + [1.52/(4 x 2.5)] +
[1.5 2/(4 x 4.75)] + [1.5 2/(4 x 3)] = 10.031”
• LINE a-b-c-e-g
• Wn = Wg – 3 Holes = 13.5” - 3 x 1” + [(1.52 /(4 x 2.5)] = 10.725”
 Tension Member - Staggered Bolts Arrangement

➢ Line a-b-c-d-e-g Provides Minimum Net Width of 10.031”

➢ Therefore The Net Area (ANET) along Line a-b-c-d-e-g

= 10.031 x ½ = 5.015 in2
➢ Therefore The Failure load Pn = 0.75 x 5.015 x 58 = 218 Kip

➢ The Same can be obtained by Using Area instead of Width

➢ Consider Line a-b-c-d-e-g
➢ Anet = Agross – (4 Hole’s Dia x Pl. thickness) + ∑ Pl. Th.*[S2 / 4 g]
➢ Anet= 6.75 in2 – 4*(1*1/2)+ [0.5*{((1.52/(4*2.5)) + (1.52/(4*4.75)) +
(1.52/(4*3))}] = 5.015 in2
 Tension Member - Staggered Bolts Arrangement

U = 1 b/c Both Elements of Angle are

Connected
➢Therefore The Failure load Corresponding to
Fracture Failure Mode is
ΦPn = 0.75 x 5.015 x 58 = 218 Kip
➢The Failure load Corresponding to Yielding
Failure Mode is
ΦPn = 0.9 x 6.75 x 36 = 219 Kip