Tension Members

• Tension members are encountered in most steel structures. They occur as

principal structural members in bridge and roof trusses, in truss structures
such as transmission towers and wind bracing systems in multistoried
buildings.
• Tension members may consist of a single structural shape, or they may be
built up from a number of structural shapes.
▪ The presence of holes in a member will
influence the stress at a cross section through
the hole or holes. At these locations, the
cross-sectional area will be reduced by an
amount equal to the area removed by the
holes.
▪ This reduced area is referred to as the net
area, or net section, and the unreduced area is
the gross area.

Modes of Failure in Tension

▪FAILURE AT GROSS SECTION (DUE TO
YIELDING)
▪FAILURE AT NET AREA (DUE TO RUPTURE)

Tensile Strength NSCP 2015 SECTION 504.2

▪ Tensile Yielding in the gross section:
Pn = FyAg
(504.2-1)
Øt = 0.90
Ωt = 1.67
▪ Tensile Rupture in the net section
Pn = FuAe
(504.2-2)
Øt = 0.75
Ωt = 2.0

where: Ae = Effective Net Area, mm2

Ag = Gross Area, mm^2
Fy = Specified minimum yield stress, MPa
Fu = Specified minimum tensile strength, MPa

SHEAR LAG
-Of the several factors influencing the performance of a tension member, the manner in which it
is connected is the most important. A connection almost always weakens the member, and the
measure of its influence is called the joint efficiency. This factor is a function of the ductility of
the material, fastener spacing, stress concentrations at holes, fabrication procedure, and a
phenomenon known as shear lag. All contribute to reducing the effectiveness of the member, but
shear lag is the most important.

Shear Lag Factor (504.3.1)

Example 1:
An A36 steel plate 127 x 13mm carries a Tension force. The steel plate is connected to a gusset
plate by four 16 mm diameter bolts. Use the shear lag factor U = 1.0 for calculations. Disregard
nominal hole provisions to simplify calculations. (Fy = 250 MPa; Fu = 400 MPa) a. Determine
the design strength for LRFD. b. Determine the allowable strength for ASD.

Example 2:
Solve for the value of T force on the plate with a
thickness of 8mm. Use LRFD Method in solving
for the critical value of T. Use fy = 275MPa and Fu
= 414MPa.