08-03-2023

Basic Design of Steel Structures

CE 3050

P. S. Lakshmi Priya
LAKSHMIPRIYA@IITM.AC.IN
STR 303

DESIGN OF TENSION MEMBERS

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Cross-Sections for Tension Members

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GOVERNING LIMIT STATES

Gross Section Yielding

Block Shear Failure Net Section Fracture

Gross Section Yielding

Say: εy = 0.001 Let’s apply a load P to tension member (3m long), and
εsh = 0.02 measure the elongation Δ of tension member
εu = 0.15
εfracture = 0.25 Δy = 3000x0.001 = 3mm
Δ sh = 3000x0.02 = 60mm
Δu = 3000x0.15 = 450mm
Δfracture = 3000x0.25 = 750mm

Peak load capacity = AgFu. However, to achieve this load

capacity, the 3m long member has to elongate 75cm!

εy εsh εfracture
εu
To achieve loads greater than yield, requires excessive
deformations which are not practical

Failure = excessive deformation / loss of stiffness due to

Failure Load = Agfy yielding of gross-section

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Gross Section Yielding

Net Area

Bolt holes reduce the area of cross-section available to carry tension

w w
P

t Gross area and net area t

resist the same axial force P d d

Gross Area = Ag = w x t Net Area = An = w x t – 2dt
Since Anet < Agross
Avg stress = σg = P/A Then σnet > σg Avg stress = σnet = P/An
w

3m

Net area will yield before gross area

Net area will fracture before gross area

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Net Area

Bolt holes reduce the area of cross-section available to carry tension

P
Yielding occurs over a very short length,
Say: εy = 0.001 say 50 mm, Δy = 50x0.001 = 0.05 mm
εsh = 0.02
εu = 0.15 Very little deformation due to yielding of
εfracture = 0.25 net section. Yield of net section is not a
P failure mode!

Failure Load = Anfu

P

Δu = 50x0.15 = 7.5 mm

The peak strength at fracture = Anfu can

be achieved without excessive
P
deformation

Effect of Staggered Holes on Net Area

Multiple failure paths: may be along zigzag sections or

normal to the axis

Controlling failure line is that which gives largest stress

on effective net area

In (b), Path AB is shorter, but only one hole is to be deducted. Path AC is longer (larger area), but two
holes to be deducted. Hence check all possible paths!

Strength along AC: complex stress calculations. s2

Simplified correction of strength for a diagonal path = 4g

Net length of AB = length of AB – (diameter of bolt hole) Check strength along all possible paths

Net length of AC = length of AB – 2(diameter of bolt hole) +p2 4g

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Net Section Rupture

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Example 1: Determine the minimum net area of the plates shown with a plate of size
210 x 8mm and 16mm bolts
Path ACDE: (210-418+452/(450))8 = 1185 mm2

Path FCDE: (210-418+402/(450))8 = 1168 mm2

Net area = (b – nd)t Paths AB, FG:

Net area = (210-218)8 = 1392 mm2
Net area = (210 – 418)8 Max no. of holes, and
Path CDE: (210-318)8 = 1248 mm2 min number of staggers
Net area = 1104 mm2
Paths ACG, FCB:
Net area = (210-318+452/(450) + 402/(450))8 = 1393 mm2

Paths FCG:
Net area = (210-318+ 2402/(450))8 = 1376 mm2

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ANGLES AS TENSION MEMBERS

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Angles as Tension Members

Extensively used in towers, trusses and bracings

Design is similar to plates if axially loaded through the centroid

However, angles are connected to gusset plates by welding or bolting through only one of the legs

Eccentric loading: results in nonuniform stress distribution : Shear Lag Effect

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Effective Net Area / Shear Lag Effect

When tensile load is applied eccentrically to a wide plate, the

stress distribution across the width of the plate is nonuniform

Force transferred to one leg locally gets transferred as tensile

stress over the whole cross-section by shear

At failure, connected leg may have even ultimate stress, whereas other leg
may have less than yield stress

Sections farther from connection have uniform stresses

Shear Lag: Because one part lags behind the other

More critical for shorter connections, reduces the effectiveness of the

components that are not directly connected to the plate

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Angles Eccentrically Loaded

When holes are staggered on two legs of the angle, the cross-section is
developed into an equivalent flat plate

The g* is used to calculate the critical net section

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Angles as Tension Members (IS 800: 2007)

0.9

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Example 2: Determine the net area of the 125  75  6 angle with M20 bolt holes shown

For M20 bolt, dh = 22mm An = Ag- Σdht+Σ(p2/4g)t

Paths AC: Net area = 1170-222 6 = 906 mm2

Paths ABC: Net area = 1170-322 6 +[ 502/(455) +

502/(479)]6 = 889.65 mm2

g* = g1 + g2 –t = 45 + 40 -6 = 79mm

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Example 3: Compute the tensile strength of an angle section ISA 150 x 115 x 8 mm of
E250 grade of steel connected with the gusset plate as shown in Fig. for the following
cases: (a) gross section yielding (b) net section rupture
Tensile strength: net section rupture

Why is the shorter leg outstanding? Think!!!

 115   250   115   410   1.1 
β = 1.4 - 0.076   
 8   410   140 
 ≤ 0.9    = 1.299
 250   1.25 
= 0.85  0.7
Tensile strength: gross section yielding
Net area of connected leg, Anc = (150-8/2)8 = 1168 mm2
Tdg = (Agfy)/γmo = (2058250)/1.1 = 467.7 kN
Gross area of outstanding leg, Ago = (115-8/2)8 = 888 mm2

 1168 × 410   888 × 250 

Tdn = 0.9   + 0.85  
0.9  1.25   1.1 
= 516.34kN

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BLOCK SHEAR FAILURE

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Block Shear / Tearing Failure at Bolt Holes

Rupture along b-c + yielding/ rupture along a-b

Tear-out if sum of shear strengths along a-b and c-d plus

tensile strength along b-c is less than either of the
strengths in yielding of member or rupture along e-b-c-f

Block-shear has shown to control for short connections

(2 or fewer connections per gauge line)

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Block Shear / Tearing Failure at Bolt Holes

Possible mode of failure when material bearing strength and bolt shear strength are higher

Use of fewer bolts resulting in smaller connection, increasing possibility of block shear

Gross area is used for yielding,

and net area for rupture

Yielding of gross shear plane + rupture of net tensile area

Or
Rupture of the shear area + yielding of the tension are

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Example 4: Determine the block shear strength of the tension member shown in Fig.
The steel is of grade E250

Shear along a-b (consists 1.5 bolt holes). Tension along b-c (0.5 bolt hole)

A vg fy 0.9A tn fu 0.9A vn fu A tg fy
Tdb1 = + Tdb2 = +
3γ m0 γ m1 3γ m1 γ m0
1200 × 250 0.9 × 208 × 410 0.9  984 × 410 280 × 250
= + = +
3 × 1.1 1.25 3 × 1.25 1.1
fu = 410 Mpa, fy = 250 MPa = 218.9kN = 231.34N

Avg = (1100+50)8 = 1200 mm2

Block shear strength = 218.9 kN
Avn = (1100+50 - 1.518)8
= 984 mm2

Atg = (35)8 = 280 mm2

Atn = (35-0.518)8 = 208 mm2

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WELDED TENSION MEMBERS

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STIFFNESS OF TENSION
MEMBERS

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Stiffness as a Design Criterion

Although stability is not a design criterion for tension members,

prevent members from being too flexible

Tension members that are too long may sag excessively from self
weight

Long tension members vibrate when subjected to wind forces in an

open truss, etc.

Use the slenderness ratio about the weakest principal axis (smaller
radius of gyration r, larger slenderness ratio)

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TENSION RODS

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Tension/ Threaded Rod Design

Usually secondary members, where the required strength is small

Tie rods frequently used with initial tension as diagonal

wind bracing in walls, roofs and towers

Initial tension adds to the stiffness and reduces deflection

and vibrational motion

Initial tension can be achieved by fabricating short or by

turnbuckles which can be tightened

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Example 5: Design a bridge truss diagonal subjected to a factored tensile load of 300
kN. The length of the diagonal is 3.0m. The tension member is connected to a gusset
plate 16 mm thick with one line of 20 mm diameter bolts of grade 8.8
fu = 410 Mpa, fy = 250 Mpa Bolt Design Checks: Shear
fub = 800 Mpa, Anb = 245 mm2
Assuming threads to be included in the bolt hole:

Check following limit states Shear strength of bolt Bearing strength of bolt
Bolts: fu 800 fu 410
A nb = 245 = 90.5kN 2.5k bdt 2.5  0.681  20  8
1. Shear 3γ mb 3 × 1.25 γ mb 1.25
2. Bearing
No of bolts = 300/ 90.5 = 4 = 89.34kN
Plate/ Tension member: No of bolts = 300/ 89.34 = 4
Assume (based on IS800
1. Gross-section yielding
requirements) pitch = 65mm,
2. Net section rupture
end distance = 45mm, 50mm
3. Block shear
Provide 4, 20mm diameter bolts of
grade 8.8 in one line (assuming 8mm
thick tension member)

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Example 5: Continued…Tension Member Checks

Required cross-section area based on gross-section yielding

Tγ m0 300 × 1.1
Ag = =
fy 250
= 1320mm2

Diameter of hole = 22mm

Net area of connected leg = (100-22-8/2)8 = 592mm2

Gross area of outstanding leg = (75-8/2)8 = 568mm2

Required cross-section area based on net-section rupture

 75   250   50 + 75 - 8   410   1.1   592 × 410   568 × 250 
β = 1.4 - 0.076      ≤ 0.9 
 8   410   3  65    = 1.299 Tdn = 0.9   + 1.139  
 250   1.25   1.25   1.1 
= 1.139  0.7
= 321.79kN > 300kN

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Example 5: Continued…Tension Member Checks

Check for Block Shear

Avg = (365+45)8 = 1920 mm2

A vg fy 0.9A tn fu 0.9A vn fu A tg fy
Tdb1 = + Tdb2 = +
Avn = (365+45 - 3.522)8 3γ m0 γ m1 3γ m1 γ m0
= 1304 mm2 1920 × 250 0.9 × 312 × 410 0.9  1304 × 410 400 × 250
= + = +
3 × 1.1 1.25 3 × 1.25 1.1
Atg = (50)8 = 400 mm2
= 344.03kN = 313.15kN > 300kN
Atn = (50-0.522)8 = 312 mm2
All limit states are satisfied
Bolts:
1. Shear
2. Bearing

Plate/ Tension member:

1. Gross-section yielding
2. Net section rupture
3. Block shear

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