TENSION MEMBERS

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PRINCIPLES OF STEEL DESIGN

If a tension member connection is made

with bolts, the net area will be maximized
if the fasteners are placed in a single line.
Sometimes space limitations, such as a
limit on dimension a in Figure (a),
necessitate using more than one line. If
so, the reduction in cross-sectional area is
minimized if the fasteners are arranged in
a staggered pattern, as shown. Sometimes
staggered fasteners are required by the
geometry of a connection, such as the one
shown in Figure (b). In either case, any
cross section passing through holes will
pass through fewer holes than if the
fasteners are not staggered.
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PRINCIPLES OF STEEL DESIGN

• 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 previous examples, tension members were assumed to
fail transversely as along line AB in Figure (a) and (b).
• Figure (c) shows a member in which failure other than a
transverse one is possible.
• The holes are staggered, and failure along section ABCD is
possible unless the holes are a large distance apart.
• In Figure (c), which is showing two lines of staggered holes,
the failure line might be through one hole (section ABE) or it
might be alone a diagonal path ABCD.
• At first glance, one might think section ABE is critical since
the ABE is obviously shorter than path ABCD.
• However, from path ABE, only one hole would be deducted
while two holes would be deducted from path ABCD. Possible Failure Sections in Plates
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PRINCIPLES OF STEEL DESIGN

Failure line - When a member

has staggered bolt holes, a
different approach to finding
Ae for the fracture limit state
is taken. This is because the
effective net area is different
as the line of fracture
changes due to the stagger in
the holes. The test for the
yielding limit state remains
unchanged (the gross area is
still the same).

All possible failure patterns should be considered.

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PRINCIPLES OF STEEL DESIGN

Load distribution in plate

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PRINCIPLES OF STEEL DESIGN
Controlling Section The AISC Specification uses this approach, but in a modified
• In order to determine the controlling section, form. If the net area is treated as the product of a thickness times a
both paths ABE and ABCD must be investigated net width, and the diameter from preceding equation is used for all
(see figure on slide no. 23). holes (since d′ = d when the stagger s = 0), the net width in a failure
• Accurate checking of strength along path ABCD line consisting of both staggered and unstaggered holes is
is very complex.
𝐴𝑛 = 𝐴𝑔 − Σ𝑑 ′ 𝑡
Several approximate methods have been
𝑠2
proposed to account for the effects of staggered = 𝐴𝑔 − Σ 𝑑 − 𝑡
holes. Cochrane (1922) proposed that when 4𝑔
deducting the area corresponding to a staggered 𝑠2
= 𝐴𝑔 − Σ𝑑𝑡 + Σ 𝑡
hole, use a reduced diameter, given by 4𝑔
′
𝒔𝟐 Where:
𝒅 =𝒅− wn = the net width
𝟒𝒈
Where: wg = the gross width
d = the hole diameter
s = the stagger or pitch of the bolts (spacing The second term is the sum of all hole diameters and the
in the direction of the load) third term is the sum of s2/4g for all inclined lines in the failure
g = is the gage (transverse spacing) pattern.

This means that in a failure pattern
consisting of both staggered and unstaggered
holes, use d for holes at the end of a transverse
line between holes (s = 0) and use d’ for holes at
the end of an inclined line between holes.
When more than one failure pattern is conceivable, all
possibilities should be investigated, and the one corresponding to
the smallest load capacity should be used. Note that this method
will not accommodate failure patterns with lines parallel to the
applied load.
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PRINCIPLES OF STEEL DESIGN

PROBLEM NO. 8: A tension member SOLUTION:

is composed of two 12 mm x 250 Consider these failures:
mm plates. They are connected to
𝑨𝒏 = 𝟐𝟓𝟎 𝟏𝟐 − (𝟐)(𝟐𝟎 + 𝟒)(𝟏𝟐)
a gusset plate with the gusset
𝑨𝒏 = 𝟐𝟒𝟐𝟒 𝒎𝒎𝟐
plate between the two tension
member plates, as shown in figure.
𝟏𝟐𝟓 𝟐
A36 steel and 20 mm diameter 𝑨𝒏 = 𝟐𝟓𝟎 𝟏𝟐 − 𝟐 𝟐𝟎 + 𝟒 𝟏𝟐 + (𝟏𝟐)
bolts are used. Determine the 𝟒 𝟏𝟓𝟎
nominal strength based on the net 𝑨𝒏 = 𝟐𝟕𝟑𝟔. 𝟓 𝒎𝒎𝟐
section. 𝟏𝟎
𝐃𝐮𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐥𝐨𝐚𝐝 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐟𝐞𝐫: 𝑨𝒏 = (𝟐𝟕𝟑𝟔. 𝟓)
𝟗
𝑨𝒏 = 𝟑𝟎𝟒𝟎. 𝟓𝟔 𝒎𝒎𝟐

𝟐 𝟓𝟎 𝟐
𝑨𝒏 = 𝟐𝟓𝟎 𝟏𝟐 − 𝟑 𝟐𝟎 + 𝟒 𝟏𝟐 + (𝟏𝟐)
𝟒 𝟕𝟓
𝑨𝒏 = 𝟐𝟑𝟑𝟔 𝒎𝒎𝟐
𝟏𝟎
𝐃𝐮𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐥𝐨𝐚𝐝 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐟𝐞𝐫: 𝑨𝒏 = (𝟐𝟑𝟔𝟒. 𝟖)
𝟖
𝑨𝒏 = 𝟐𝟗𝟐𝟎 𝒎𝒎𝟐

Question: What do you observed in the multiplier due to load transfer?

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PRINCIPLES OF STEEL DESIGN

SOLUTION (cont’d):
Selecting the smallest An: 𝑨𝒏 = 𝟐𝟒𝟐𝟒 𝒎𝒎𝟐

Considering case 1: U = 1.0

𝑨𝒆 = 𝑼𝑨𝒏 = 𝟏. 𝟎 𝟐𝟒𝟐𝟒 = 𝟐𝟒𝟐𝟒 𝒎𝒎𝟐

The nominal strength based on the net section:

𝑷𝒏 = 𝑭𝒖 𝑨𝒆 = 𝟒𝟎𝟎 𝟐𝟒𝟐𝟒 = 𝟗𝟔𝟗. 𝟔 𝒌𝑵 (𝒂𝒏𝒔. )
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PRINCIPLES OF STEEL DESIGN

PROBLEM NO. 9: The tension SOLUTION:

member shown in the figure is a Considering the following failures:
PL10 × 200. The bolts are 12 mm
in diameter and A36 steel is used. 𝑨𝒏 = 𝟐𝟎𝟎 𝟏𝟎 − (𝟏)(𝟏𝟐 + 𝟒)(𝟏𝟎)
a. Compute the design strength. 𝑨𝒏 = 𝟏𝟖𝟒𝟎 𝒎𝒎𝟐
b. Compute the allowable
strength.
𝟕𝟓𝟐
𝑨𝒏 = 𝟐𝟎𝟎 𝟏𝟎 − 𝟐 𝟏𝟐 + 𝟒 𝟏𝟎 + (𝟏𝟎)
𝟒 𝟓𝟎
𝑨𝒏 = 𝟏𝟗𝟔𝟏. 𝟐𝟓 𝒎𝒎𝟐

𝟐 𝟕𝟓𝟐
𝑨𝒏 = 𝟐𝟎𝟎 𝟏𝟎 − 𝟑 𝟏𝟐 + 𝟒 𝟏𝟎 + (𝟏𝟎)
𝟒 𝟓𝟎
𝑨𝒏 = 𝟐𝟎𝟖𝟐. 𝟓 𝒎𝒎𝟐

Choose the smallest value of An: 𝑨𝒏 = 𝟏𝟖𝟒𝟎 𝒎𝒎𝟐

Considering case 1: U = 1.0

𝑨𝒆 = 𝑼𝑨𝒏 = 𝟏. 𝟎 𝟏𝟖𝟒𝟖 = 𝟏𝟖𝟒𝟎 𝒎𝒎𝟐

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PRINCIPLES OF STEEL DESIGN

SOLUTION (cont’d):
Consider yielding: b. ASD :
𝑷𝒏 = 𝑭𝒚 𝑨𝒈 = 𝟐𝟒𝟖 𝟏𝟎 𝟐𝟎𝟎 = 𝟒𝟗𝟔 𝒌𝑵 • Yielding (𝛀𝒕 = 𝟏. 𝟔𝟕):
𝑷𝒏 𝟒𝟗𝟔
= = 𝟐𝟗𝟕. 𝟎𝟏 𝒌𝑵
Consider fracture: 𝛀𝒕 𝟏. 𝟔𝟕
𝑷𝒏 = 𝑭𝒖 𝑨𝒆 = 𝟒𝟎𝟎 𝟏𝟖𝟒𝟎 = 𝟕𝟑𝟔 𝒌𝑵
• Fracture (𝛀𝒕 = 𝟐. 𝟎𝟎):
𝑷𝒏 𝟕𝟑𝟔
a. LRFD: = = 𝟑𝟔𝟖 𝒌𝑵
• Yielding (𝝓𝒕 = 𝟎. 𝟗𝟎): 𝛀𝒕 𝟐. 𝟎𝟎
𝝓𝒕 𝑷𝒏 = 𝟎. 𝟗𝟎 𝟒𝟗𝟔 = 𝟒𝟒𝟔. 𝟒 𝒌𝑵
The smallest value governs. So,
𝑷𝒏
• Fracture (𝝓𝒕 = 𝟎. 𝟕𝟓): = 𝟐𝟗𝟕. 𝟎𝟏 𝒌𝑵 (𝒂𝒏𝒔. )
𝝓𝒕 𝑷𝒏 = 𝟎. 𝟕𝟓 𝟕𝟑𝟔 = 𝟓𝟓𝟐 𝒌𝑵 𝛀𝒕

The smallest value governs. So,

𝝓𝒕 𝑷𝒏 = 𝟒𝟒𝟔. 𝟒 𝒌𝑵 (𝒂𝒏𝒔. )
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PRINCIPLES OF STEEL DESIGN

PROBLEM NO. 10: Determine the SOLUTION:

smallest net area for the American Considering the following failures. Note that the holes for bolts are
Standard Channel shown in the located at the web.
figure. The holes are for 16-mm-
diameter bolts. (Gross Area = 2471 𝑨𝒏 = 𝟐𝟒𝟕𝟏 − (𝟏)(𝟏𝟔 + 𝟒)(𝟏𝟏)
mm2, thickness of the web = 11 𝑨𝒏 = 𝟐𝟓𝟐𝟏 𝒎𝒎𝟐
mm, thickness of the flange = 8.7
mm, 𝒙ഥ = 13.06 mm). Solve also for 𝟓𝟎𝟐
the effective area. 𝑨𝒏 = 𝟐𝟒𝟕𝟏 − 𝟐 𝟏𝟔 + 𝟒 𝟏𝟏 + (𝟏𝟏)
𝟒 𝟕𝟓
𝑨𝒏 = 𝟐𝟏𝟐𝟐. 𝟔𝟕 𝒎𝒎𝟐

Choose the smallest value of An: 𝑨𝒏 = 𝟐𝟏𝟐𝟐. 𝟔𝟕 𝒎𝒎𝟐 (𝒂𝒏𝒔. )

Considering case 2

ഥ
𝒙 𝟏𝟑. 𝟎𝟔
𝑼=𝟏− =𝟏− = 𝟎. 𝟗𝟑𝟓
𝑳 𝟒 𝟓𝟎
𝑨𝒆 = 𝑼𝑨𝒏 = 𝟎. 𝟗𝟑𝟓 𝟐𝟏𝟐𝟐. 𝟔𝟕 = 𝟏𝟗𝟖𝟒. 𝟕𝟎 𝒎𝒎𝟐 (𝒂𝒏𝒔. )
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PRINCIPLES OF STEEL DESIGN

When lines of bolts are present in more than one element of the cross
section of a rolled shape, and the bolts in these lines are staggered with respect
to one another, the use of areas and Cochrane’s equation is preferable to the net-
width approach of the AISC Specification.
If the shape is an angle, it can be visualized as a plate formed by
“unfolding” the legs to more clearly identify the pitch and gage distances.

AISC specifies that any gage line

crossing the heel of the angle be
reduced by an amount that equals the
angle thickness. Thus the distance g in
the figure, to be used in the s2/4g term,
would be 3 + 2 – ½ = 4 ½ inches.
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PRINCIPLES OF STEEL DESIGN

When holes are staggered For C and W section:

on two legs of an angle, the gage
length g for use in s2/4g expression
is obtained by using a length
between the centers of the holes
measured along the centerline of
the angle thickness, i.e., the
distance AB in the figure. Thus the
gage distance g is given by

𝒕 𝒕
𝒈 = 𝒈𝒂 − + 𝒈 𝒃 − = 𝒈𝒂 + 𝒈 𝒃 − 𝒕
𝟐 𝟐
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PRINCIPLES OF STEEL DESIGN

PROBLEM NO. 11: An angle with staggered • Consider a-b-d-f

fasteners in each leg is shown in the figure.
A36 steel is used, and holes are for 20 mm
diameter bolts. (Gross Area = 4355 mm2)
(a) Determine the design strength for LRFD. 𝑨𝒏 = 𝟒𝟑𝟓𝟓 − 𝟐 𝟐𝟎 + 𝟒 𝟏𝟐
(b) Determine the allowable strength for ASD. 𝑨𝒏 = 𝟑𝟕𝟕𝟗 𝒎𝒎𝟐

• Consider a-b-c-d-f

𝑨𝒏 = 𝟒𝟑𝟓𝟓 − 𝟑 𝟐𝟎 + 𝟒 𝟏𝟐
g1 = 56.25 mm 𝟓𝟎 𝟐 𝟓𝟎 𝟐
g2 = 62.5 mm + (𝟏𝟐) + (𝟏𝟐)
𝟒 𝟔𝟐. 𝟓 𝟒 𝟏𝟏𝟗. 𝟐𝟓
g3 = 75 mm 𝑨𝒏 = 𝟑𝟔𝟕𝟑. 𝟖𝟗 𝒎𝒎𝟐

SOLUTION:
• Solve for g:
𝒈 = 𝒈𝟏 + 𝒈𝟑 − 𝒕 = 𝟓𝟔. 𝟐𝟓 + 𝟕𝟓 − 𝟏𝟐
𝒈 = 𝟏𝟏𝟗. 𝟐𝟓 𝒎𝒎𝟐
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PRINCIPLES OF STEEL DESIGN

SOLUTION (cont’d):
• Consider a-b-d-e-g

𝟓𝟎 𝟐
𝑨𝒏 = 𝟒𝟑𝟓𝟓 − 𝟑 𝟐𝟎 + 𝟒 𝟏𝟐 + (𝟏𝟐)
𝟒 𝟕𝟓
𝑨𝒏 = 𝟑𝟓𝟗𝟏 𝒎𝒎𝟐

• Consider a-b-c-d-e-f

𝟓𝟎 𝟐 𝟓𝟎 𝟐 𝟓𝟎 𝟐
𝑨𝒏 = 𝟒𝟑𝟓𝟓 − 𝟒 𝟐𝟎 + 𝟒 𝟏𝟐 + (𝟏𝟐) + 𝟏𝟐 + (𝟏𝟐)
𝟒 𝟔𝟐. 𝟓 𝟒 𝟏𝟏𝟗. 𝟐𝟓 𝟒 𝟕𝟓
𝑨𝒏 = 𝟑𝟒𝟖𝟓. 𝟖𝟗 𝒎𝒎𝟐

Choose the smallest value of An:

𝑨𝒏 = 𝟑𝟒𝟖𝟓. 𝟖𝟗 𝒎𝒎𝟐
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PRINCIPLES OF STEEL DESIGN

SOLUTION (cont’d):
Consider case 1: U = 1.0 a. LRFD:
• Yielding (𝝓𝒕 = 𝟎. 𝟗𝟎):
𝝓𝒕 𝑷𝒏 = 𝟎. 𝟗𝟎 𝟏𝟎𝟖𝟎. 𝟎𝟒 = 𝟗𝟕𝟐. 𝟎𝟒 𝒌𝑵
• Fracture (𝝓𝒕 = 𝟎. 𝟕𝟓):
𝝓𝒕 𝑷𝒏 = 𝟎. 𝟕𝟓 𝟏𝟑𝟗𝟒. 𝟑𝟔 = 𝟏𝟎𝟒𝟓. 𝟕𝟕 𝒌𝑵
𝑨𝒆 = 𝑼𝑨𝒏 = 𝟏. 𝟎 𝟑𝟒𝟖𝟓. 𝟖𝟗 = 𝟑𝟒𝟖𝟓. 𝟖𝟗 𝒎𝒎𝟐 The smallest value governs. So,
𝝓𝒕 𝑷𝒏 = 𝟗𝟕𝟐. 𝟎𝟒 𝒌𝑵 (𝒂𝒏𝒔. )
Consider yielding:
𝑷𝒏 = 𝑭𝒚 𝑨𝒈 = 𝟐𝟒𝟖 𝟒𝟑𝟓𝟓 = 𝟏𝟎𝟖𝟎. 𝟎𝟒 𝒌𝑵 b. ASD :
• Yielding (𝛀𝒕 = 𝟏. 𝟔𝟕):
𝑷𝒏 𝟏𝟎𝟖𝟎. 𝟎𝟒
Consider fracture: = = 𝟔𝟒𝟔. 𝟕𝟑 𝒌𝑵
𝑷𝒏 = 𝑭𝒖 𝑨𝒆 = 𝟒𝟎𝟎 𝟑𝟒𝟖𝟓. 𝟖𝟗 = 𝟏𝟑𝟗𝟒. 𝟑𝟔 𝒌𝑵 𝛀𝒕 𝟏. 𝟔𝟕
• Fracture (𝛀𝒕 = 𝟐. 𝟎𝟎):
𝑷𝒏 𝟏𝟑𝟗𝟒. 𝟑𝟔
= = 𝟔𝟗𝟕. 𝟏𝟖 𝒌𝑵
𝛀𝒕 𝟐. 𝟎𝟎
The smallest value governs. So,
𝑷𝒏
= 𝟔𝟒𝟔. 𝟕𝟑 𝒌𝑵 (𝒂𝒏𝒔. )
𝛀𝒕
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PRINCIPLES OF STEEL DESIGN

PROBLEM NO. 12: Determine the effective net

cross-sectional area of C12 x 25 shown. Holes
are for 20 mm diameter bolts (Ag = 4742 mm2
d = 304.8 mm, bf = 77.4 mm, tw = 9.8 mm, tf =
12.7 mm, 𝒙 ഥ = 17.12 mm).
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PRINCIPLES OF STEEL DESIGN

PROBLEM NO. 12: Determine the effective net

cross-sectional area of C12 x 25 shown. Holes
are for 20 mm diameter bolts (Ag = 4742 mm2
d = 304.8 mm, bf = 77.4 mm, tw = 9.8 mm, tf =
12.7 mm, 𝒙 ഥ = 17.12 mm).