16.

1-32

CHAPTER D
DESIGN OF MEMBERS FOR TENSION

This chapter applies to members subjected to axial tension.

The chapter is organized as follows:
D1. Slenderness Limitations
D2. Tensile Strength
D3. Effective Net Area
D4. Built-Up Members
D5. Pin-Connected Members
D6. Eyebars

User Note: For cases not included in this chapter, the following sections apply:
• B3.11 Members subjected to fatigue
• Chapter H Members subjected to combined axial tension and flexure
• J3 Threaded rods
• J4.1 Connecting elements in tension
• J4.3 Block shear rupture strength at end connections of tension members

D1. SLENDERNESS LIMITATIONS

There is no maximum slenderness limit for members in tension.

User Note: For members designed on the basis of tension, the slenderness ratio of
the member as fabricated—taken as the fabricated length of the member divided
by the least radius of gyration of the section—preferably should not exceed 300.
This suggestion does not apply to rods.

D2. TENSILE STRENGTH

The design tensile strength, φt Pn , and the allowable tensile strength, Pn Ωt , of ten-
sion members shall be the lower value obtained according to the limit states of tensile
yielding in the gross section and tensile rupture in the net section.
(a) For tensile yielding
Pn = Fy Ag (D2-1)
φt = 0.90 (LRFD)   Ωt = 1.67 (ASD)

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 Sect. D4.] BUILT-UP MEMBERS 16.1-33

(b) For tensile rupture

Pn = Fu Ae (D2-2)
φt = 0.75 (LRFD)   Ωt = 2.00 (ASD)
where
Ae = effective net area, in.2 (mm2)
Ag = gross area of member, in.2 (mm2)
Fy = specified minimum yield stress, ksi (MPa)
Fu = specified minimum tensile strength, ksi (MPa)
Where connections use plug, slot, or fillet welds in holes or slots, the effective net
area through the holes shall be used in Equation D2-2.

D3. EFFECTIVE NET AREA

The gross area, Ag , and net area, An , of tension members shall be determined in
accordance with the provisions of Section B4.3.
The effective net area of tension members shall be determined as
Ae = AnU (D3-1)
where U, the shear lag factor, is determined as shown in Table D3.1.
For open cross sections such as W, M, S, C, or HP shapes, WTs, STs, and single and
double angles, the shear lag factor, U, need not be less than the ratio of the gross area
of the connected element(s) to the member gross area. This provision does not apply
to closed sections, such as HSS, nor to plates.

D4. BUILT-UP MEMBERS

For limitations on the longitudinal spacing of connectors between elements in con-
tinuous contact consisting of a plate and a shape, or two plates, see Section J3.6.
Lacing, perforated cover plates, or tie plates without lacing are permitted to be used
on the open sides of built-up tension members. Tie plates shall have a length not
less than two-thirds the distance between the lines of welds or fasteners connecting
them to the components of the member. The thickness of such tie plates shall not be
less than one-fiftieth of the distance between these lines. The longitudinal spacing of
intermittent welds or fasteners at tie plates shall not exceed 6 in. (150 mm).

User Note: The longitudinal spacing of connectors between components should

preferably limit the slenderness ratio in any component between the connectors
to 300.

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 16.1-34 BUILT-UP MEMBERS [Sect. D4.

TABLE D3.1
Shear Lag Factors for Connections
to Tension Members
Case Description of Element Shear Lag Factor, U Examples
1 All tension members where the tension
load is transmitted directly to each of the
U = 1.0 –
cross-sectional elements by fasteners or
welds (except as in Cases 4, 5, and 6).

2 All tension members, except HSS, where x

the tension load is transmitted to some x
but not all of the cross-sectional elements
by fasteners or by longitudinal welds x
U = 1−
in combination with transverse welds. l
Alternatively, Case 7 is permitted for W, M,
S, and HP shapes and Case 8 is permitted x
for angles. x

3 All tension members where the tension U = 1.0 and

load is transmitted only by transverse An = area of the
welds to some but not all of the cross- directly connected –
sectional elements. elements
4[a] Plates, angles, channels with welds
at heels, tees, and W-shapes with
connected elements, where the tension 3l 2  x
load is transmitted by longitudinal welds U= 1− 
3l 2+ w2  l
only. See Case 2 for definition of x.

5 Round and rectangular HSS with single R sin θ 1

concentric gusset through slots in the x= − tp
θ 2 x
HSS.
θ in rad
−10
  x  3. 2 
U = 1 +   
  l  

x
2b2 + tH − 2t2
x = b−
2H + 4 b − 4t
x
U = 1−
l

6 Rectangular HSS with two side gusset BUB + HUH

plates. U=
H+B
3l 2
UB = 2
3l + B2
3l 2
UH = 2
3l + H 2

B = overall width of rectangular HSS member, measured 90° to the plane of the connection, in. (mm);
D = outside diameter of round HSS, in. (mm); H = overall height of rectangular HSS member, measured in the
plane of the connection, in. (mm); d = depth of section, in. (mm); for tees, d = depth of the section from which
the tee was cut, in. (mm); l = length of connection, in. (mm); w = width of plate, in. (mm); x = eccentricity of
connection, in. (mm).
[a] l1 + l2
l= , where l1 and l2 shall not be less than 4 times the weld size.
2

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 Sect. D5.] PIN-CONNECTED MEMBERS 16.1-35

TABLE D3.1 (continued)

Shear Lag Factors for Connections
to Tension Members
Case Description of Element Shear Lag Factor, U Examples
7 W-, M-, S-, or HP-shapes, with flange connected 2
or tees cut from these with three or more b f ≥ d, U = 0 .90
3
shapes. (If U is calculated fasteners per line in the
per Case 2, the larger direction of loading bf <
2
d, U = 0 .85
–
value is permitted to be 3
used.)
with web connected
with four or more
fasteners per line in the
U = 0.70 –
direction of loading
8 Single and double angles. with four or more
(If U is calculated per fasteners per line in the U = 0.80 –
Case 2, the larger value direction of loading
is permitted to be used.)
with three fasteners per
line in the direction of
loading (with fewer than
three fasteners per line
U = 0.60 –
in the direction of
loading, use Case 2)
B = overall width of rectangular HSS member, measured 90° to the plane of the connection, in. (mm);
D = outside diameter of round HSS, in. (mm); H = overall height of rectangular HSS member, measured in the
plane of the connection, in. (mm); d = depth of section, in. (mm); for tees, d = depth of the section from which
the tee was cut, in. (mm); l = length of connection, in. (mm); w = width of plate, in. (mm); x = eccentricity of
connection, in. (mm).
[a] l1 + l2
l= , where l1 and l2 shall not be less than 4 times the weld size.
2

D5. PIN-CONNECTED MEMBERS

1. Tensile Strength
The design tensile strength, φt Pn , and the allowable tensile strength, Pn Ωt , of pin-
connected members, shall be the lower value determined according to the limit states
of tensile rupture, shear rupture, bearing, and yielding.
(a) For tensile rupture
Pn = Fu (2tbe ) (D5-1)
φt = 0.75 (LRFD)   Wt = 2.00 (ASD)

(b) For shear rupture

Pn = 0.6Cr Fu Asf (D5-2)
φsf = 0.75 (LRFD)   Wsf = 2.00 (ASD)
where
Asf = 2t ( a + d 2 )
= area on the shear failure path, in.2 (mm2)

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 16.1-36 PIN-CONNECTED MEMBERS [Sect. D5.

Cr = reduction factor for shear rupture on pin-connected members

= 1.0 when dh - d ≤ 32 in. (1 mm)
= 0.95 when 32 in. < dh - d ≤ z in. (1 mm < dh - d ≤ 2 mm)
a = shortest distance from edge of the pin hole to the edge of the member
measured parallel to the direction of the force, in. (mm)
be = 2t + 0.63, in. (= 2t + 16, mm), but not more than the actual distance from
the edge of the hole to the edge of the part measured in the direction
normal to the applied force, in. (mm)
d = diameter of pin, in. (mm)
dh = diameter of hole, in. (mm)
t = thickness of plate, in. (mm)
(c) For bearing on the projected area of the pin, use Section J7.
(d) For yielding on the gross section, use Section D2(a).

2. Dimensional Requirements
Pin-connected members shall meet the following requirements:
(a) The pin hole shall be located midway between the edges of the member in the
direction normal to the applied force.
(b) When the pin is expected to provide for relative movement between connected
parts while under full load, the diameter of the pin hole shall not be more
than 32 in. (1 mm) greater than the diameter of the pin for pins less than 3 in.
(75 mm) in diameter and not more than z in. (2 mm) greater than the diameter
of the pin for pins of 3 in. (75 mm) in diameter or greater.
(c) The width of the plate at the pin hole shall not be less than 2be + d and the mini-
mum extension, a, beyond the bearing end of the pin hole, parallel to the axis of
the member, shall not be less than 1.33be.
(d) The corners beyond the pin hole are permitted to be cut at 45° to the axis of the
member, provided the net area beyond the pin hole, on a plane perpendicular to
the cut, is not less than that required beyond the pin hole parallel to the axis of
the member.

D6. EYEBARS

1. Tensile Strength
The available tensile strength of eyebars shall be determined in accordance with
Section D2, with Ag taken as the gross area of the eyebar body.
For calculation purposes, the width of the body of the eyebar shall not exceed eight
times its thickness.

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 Sect. D6.] EYEBARS 16.1-37

2. Dimensional Requirements
Eyebars shall meet the following requirements:
(a) Eyebars shall be of uniform thickness, without reinforcement at the pin holes,
and have circular heads with the periphery concentric with the pin hole.
(b) The radius of transition between the circular head and the eyebar body shall not
be less than the head diameter.
(c) The pin diameter shall not be less than seven-eighths times the eyebar body
width, and the pin-hole diameter shall not be more than 32 in. (1 mm) greater
than the pin diameter.
(d) For steels having Fy greater than 70 ksi (485 MPa), the hole diameter shall not
exceed five times the plate thickness, and the width of the eyebar body shall be
reduced accordingly.
(e) A thickness of less than 2 in. (13 mm) is permissible only if external nuts are
provided to tighten pin plates and filler plates into snug contact.
(f) The width from the hole edge to the plate edge perpendicular to the direction of
applied load shall be greater than two-thirds and, for the purpose of calculation,
not more than three-fourths times the eyebar body width.

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American Institute of Steel Construction

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