University of Mosul Fourth year

College of Engineering Steel Design

Civil Engineering Department Lecture: 6

Block Shear Failure

In previous sections we discussed the strength of members in pure

tension, and the failure modes of tensile yielding at the gross cross-
section and tensile rupture at the net cross-section were considered.
However, the LRFD design strength of tension member is not always
controlled by tension yielding, tension rupture, or by the strength of the
bolts or welds with which they are connected. They may instead be
controlled by tearing out of a segment of the tension member or the
connecting element from the rest of the connection (see Figure below).
The failure planes usually occur along the centerlines of the bolt holes for
bolted connections, and along the outline of the welds for welded
connections, this limit state is called block shear.

Image Source: https://www.seminarsonly.com/Civil_Engineering/Block-Shear-Failure-in-

Tension-Members.php

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Dr. Khalaf I. Mohammed Dr. Baraa J. Mahmood
 University of Mosul Fourth year
College of Engineering Steel Design
Civil Engineering Department Lecture: 6

As shown in the figure below, there is a combination of tension and shear

on the failure path. Like tensile rupture, there frequently is more than
one failure path. Where, the failure of a member may occur along a path
involving tension on one plane and shear on a perpendicular plane/s, as
shown in Figure below, where several possible block shear failures are
illustrated. For these situations, it is possible for a “block” of steel to tear
out.

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Dr. Khalaf I. Mohammed Dr. Baraa J. Mahmood
University of Mosul Fourth year
College of Engineering Steel Design
Civil Engineering Department Lecture: 6

AISC-J4.3. defines two block shear failure modes (see figure below):

1. Rupture along the tensile plane (b-c in figure b) accompanied by

rupture along the shear planes (a-b and c-d in figure b).
2. Rupture along shear planes (a-b and c-d in figure c) accompanied
by rupture along the tensile plane (b-c in figure c).

According to AISC (Section J4.3), the available strength (design strength)

for the limit state of block shear rupture along a shear failure path or
paths and a perpendicular tension failure path shall be determined as
follows:

𝜑𝑡 𝑃𝑛 = 𝜑𝑡 [0.6𝐹𝑢 𝐴𝑛𝑣 + 𝑈𝑏𝑠 𝐹𝑢 𝐴𝑛𝑡 ] ≤ 𝜑𝑡 [0.6𝐹𝑦 𝐴𝑔𝑣 + 𝑈𝑏𝑠 𝐹𝑢 𝐴𝑛𝑡 ]

Where;
𝜑𝑡 = 0.75,
When the tension stress is uniform, 𝑈𝑏𝑠 = 1 (most cases); where the
tension stress is nonuniform, 𝑈𝑏𝑠 = 0.5. Consider, 𝑈𝑏𝑠 = 1.
𝐴𝑔𝑣 = gross area subjected to shear, in2
𝐴𝑛𝑣 = net area subjected to shear, in2
𝐴𝑛𝑡 = net area subjected to tension, in2

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Dr. Khalaf I. Mohammed Dr. Baraa J. Mahmood
 University of Mosul Fourth year
College of Engineering Steel Design
Civil Engineering Department Lecture: 6

𝜑𝑡 [0.6𝐹𝑢 𝐴𝑛𝑣 + 𝐹𝑢 𝐴𝑛𝑡 ]

𝜑𝑡 𝑃𝑛 = 𝑚𝑖𝑛. [ ]
𝜑𝑡 [0.6𝐹𝑦 𝐴𝑔𝑣 + 𝐹𝑢 𝐴𝑛𝑡 ]

Thus, a block shear failure cannot occur until the tensile area fractures. At
that time, it seems logical to assume that the shear area has yielded.

𝜑𝑡 [0.6𝐹𝑢 𝐴𝑛𝑣 ]
𝜑𝑡 𝑃𝑛 = 𝜑𝑡 𝑭𝒖 𝑨𝒏𝒕 + 𝑚𝑖𝑛. [ ]
𝜑𝑡 [0.6𝐹𝑦 𝐴𝑔𝑣 ]

Note; for your information only, the

parameter 0.6 presents the shear
strength according to the tensile
strength. It follows the Von-Misses failure
criteria, which is a widespread criterion
for metal and other ductile materials.

In 2D, the von-Mises yield criterion is

expressed as:

𝐹𝑦 = √𝜎𝑥2 − 𝜎𝑥 𝜎𝑦 + 𝜎𝑦2 + 3𝜏𝑥𝑦

2

If we set all the normal stresses to zero, it can

be seen that steel will yield when shear stress
reaches:

𝜏𝑥𝑦 = 𝐹𝑦 ⁄√3 = 0.5774𝐹𝑦 ≈ 0.6𝐹𝑦

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Dr. Khalaf I. Mohammed Dr. Baraa J. Mahmood
University of Mosul Fourth year
College of Engineering Steel Design
Civil Engineering Department Lecture: 6

Brief Review:

According to AISC LRFD specifications; the controlling limit state for a

tension member will be the lesser one of the following:

1. Yielding of the gross cross-section of the member away from the

conncetion,
2. Fracture of the effective net area (i.e., hrough the holes) at the
conection, or
3. Blcok shear fracture through the bolt holes at the connection.

Limits state Specification – AISC Nominal strength (𝑷𝒏 ) 𝝋

Yielding D2 (a) / J4.1 (a) Member capacity: 𝐹𝑦 𝐴𝑔 0.9

Rupture D2 (b) / J4.1 (b) Member capacity: 𝐹𝑢 𝐴𝑒 0.75

Capacity per connection:

Block shear J4.3 0.6𝐹𝑢 𝐴𝑛𝑣 0.75
𝑭𝒖 𝑨𝒏𝒕 + 𝑚𝑖𝑛 [0.6𝐹 𝐴 ]
𝑦 𝑔𝑣

Design strength = 𝝋𝑷𝒏

For certain arrangements of bolts, block shear can also occur in gusset
plates. Figure below shows a plate tension member connected to a gusset
plate. In this connection, block shear could occur in both the gusset plate
and the tension member. For the gusset plate, tension failure would be
along the transverse section df, and shear failure would occur on two
longitudinal surfaces, de and fg. Block shear failure in the plate tension
member would be tension on ik and shear on both hi and jk.

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Dr. Khalaf I. Mohammed Dr. Baraa J. Mahmood
University of Mosul Fourth year
College of Engineering Steel Design
Civil Engineering Department Lecture: 6

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ax-rKg1pQDQ&t=940s

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Dr. Khalaf I. Mohammed Dr. Baraa J. Mahmood
University of Mosul Fourth year
College of Engineering Steel Design
Civil Engineering Department Lecture: 6

EX10:
Determine the LRFD design tensile strength of the A36 member shown in
Figure. Include block shear strength in the calculations. 𝐹𝑦 = 36 𝑘𝑠𝑖, 𝐹𝑢 =
58 𝑘𝑠𝑖

EX11:
For the connection shown in the figure below, determine if the channel
and gusset plate are adequate for the applied tension load considering
block shear. The channel is ASTM A36 steel and is connected with four
5/8-in. diameter bolts.

See example EX7:

Table 1-5, AISCM: 𝐴𝑔 = 3.37 𝑖𝑛2 , 𝑥̅ = 0.572 𝑖𝑛, 𝑡𝑤 = 0.22 𝑖𝑛
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Dr. Khalaf I. Mohammed Dr. Baraa J. Mahmood