SIN 415

STRUCTURAL STEEL DESIGN

THEME 2-1
TENSION MEMBERS:

INTRODUCTION TO TENSION MEMBER

DESIGN
 Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Member type
3. Slenderness ratio
4. Tension member design
5. Stress concentration
6. Shear lag
7. Tension shear block failure
8. Summary
9. References
INTRODUCTION
• Tension members transmit a direct axial pull

• Work to the full tensile yield stress of the material

• Light, efficient, cost effective structures

• Compression or bending members – load capacity can

be reduced by buckling
2.2 MEMBER TYPE
• Cables, rods, eyebars, pin-connected plates for no
reversal of load (caused by wind suction)

• Structural shapes (L T H O ][ ) for small lateral loads &

load reversal
SLENDERNESS RATIO
In tension members the slenderness ratio is restricted to
limit the flexibility of the member
𝐿𝐿 𝐼𝐼
≤ 300 where 𝑟𝑟 =
𝑟𝑟 𝐴𝐴

In compression members the slenderness ratio is limited

to avoid buckling
𝐿𝐿 𝐼𝐼
≤ 200 where 𝑟𝑟 =
𝑟𝑟 𝐴𝐴

The radius of gyration (r) is a measure of the distribution

of the cross sectional area about the centroidal axis
DESIGN OF TENSION MEMBERS
Failure mechanisms:

• Tension yielding of gross area

• Rupture of net area
• Tension and shear block failure: combination of shear on
one plane and tension on a plane normal to it

Shear lag: load is not transferred to all the cross sectional

elements. The portion of the area that is participating
effectively in the transfer of the force is < full net area
DESIGN OF TENSION MEMBERS
Reference: SANS 10162:1 § 13.2

The factored tensile resistance Tr developed by a member

subject to an axial tensile force should be taken as the least of
the following:

a) (i) Tr =φ Ag fy ; prevents yielding of the member over its length.

(ii) Tr = 0,85φ Ane fu ; yielding around holes (over a short

distance) and thus strain hardening

(iii) Tr = 0,85φ A‘ne fu . Shear lag some of the legs of a section

are not connected

b) for pin connections, Tr = 0,75φ Ane fy

DESIGN OF TENSION MEMBERS
Reference: SANS 10162:1 § 13.2

φ = 0.9 = Partial material factor

fu = ultimate tensile strength (480 MPa for Gr 350W steel)

fy = specified minimum yield stress (350 MPa for Gr 350W

steel)

0.85 – partial material factor for lack of fit

0.75 – partial material factor for one load path

YEILDING
FRACTURE
GROSS CROSS SECTIONAL AREA
Ag = gross cross-sectional area = ∑ thickness x width of each
element (flange, web, leg or plate), measured normal to the
direction of force

Ag = wgt

wg = total width
wne = wg – hole diameter
t = thickness

Resistance to yielding on the gross area: Tr = φAgfy

EFFECTIVE NET AREA
Ane = effective net cross-sectional area = ∑ critical net areas
An of each segment of an element along a potential failure
path

Ane = wnet
wg = net width
wne = wg – hole diameter
t = thickness

Drilled holes: bolt size + 2mm;

Punched holes: bolt size + 4mm (micro cracking around

hole)

Resistance to fracture on the net area: Tr = 0.85φAnefu

EFFECTIVE NET AREA
b) Segment inclined to the force; i.e subject to both shear and
tension

Holes are not lined up transverse to the loading direction –

potential rupture / failure line is subject to tension and shear.
The influence of the staggered hole is taken into account by
introducing a (s2/4g) term for every stagger in the line.

s = pitch / spacing parallel to load

g = gauge distance ( transverse)
m = no. holes
m-1 = no. staggers in failure line
𝑚𝑚−1
𝑠𝑠𝑖𝑖2
𝑤𝑤𝑛𝑛 = 𝑤𝑤 − 𝑚𝑚𝑑𝑑ℎ +�
4𝑔𝑔𝑖𝑖
𝑖𝑖=1
FAILURE / RUPTURE LINES

Tear out of
shaded block

From Redbook
ANGLE GAUGE LENGTH
Gauge length for an angle: length between centres of the
holes measured on the centre line of the angle.

g = (g1-t/2) + (g2-t/2) = g1 + g2 - t
STRESS CONCENTRATIONS

Axial stresses due to holes - Inelastic axial deformation

with an increase of the tensile force
Yielding around holes (over a short distance) and thus
strain hardening
 SIN 415
STRUCTURAL STEEL DESIGN

THEME 2-2
TENSION MEMBERS:

TENSION SHEAR BLOCK FAILURE

TENSION-SHEAR BLOCK FAILURE
Reference: SANS 10162:1 § 13.11

For the block failure mode shown below it can be seen that
portion of the failure plane will be in tension (the vertical
segment) and other potions will be subjected to shear (the
horizontal segments)
TENSION-SHEAR BLOCK FAILURE
TENSION-SHEAR BLOCK FAILURE
TENSION-SHEAR BLOCK FAILURE
The factored resistance of a connected part whose failure
mode involves both tensile fracture and either shear yielding
or shear fracture should be taken as the lesser of:
Tension fracture Shear yielding
i) Tr + Vr = φAntfu + 0.60φAgvfy

ii) Tr + Vr = φAntfu + 0.60φAnvfu

Tension fracture Shear fracture

Where:
φ = 0.9
Ant = net area in tension for block failure
Agv = gross area in shear for block failure
Anv = net area in shear for block failure
TENSION-SHEAR BLOCK FAILURE
Reference: SANS 10162:1 § 13.11

Tension fracture + Shear fracture

φAntfu + 0.60φAnvfu

Tension fracture + Shear yielding

φAntfu + 0.60φAgvfy
 SIN 415
STRUCTURAL STEEL DESIGN

THEME 2-3
TENSION MEMBERS:

SHEAR LAG
SHEAR LAG – BOLTED CONNECTIONS
A′ne = effective net cross-sectional area reduced for shear lag

Sketch from Structural Steel Design for SANS 10162:1-2005, Greg Parrott
 SHEAR LAG – BOLTED CONNECTIONS
• Reduces the efficiency of the net section by up to 40%
• Some of the legs of a section are not connected.
• The number of connectors in the connected legs will
determine the effectiveness of the unconnected legs in
resisting tension.
• Shear transfers the load from connected legs to the
unconnected legs.
• There is “shear lag” from connected legs to the unconnected
legs.f minimum resistance.
SHEAR LAG – BOLTED CONNECTIONS
A reduced effective area is calculated which depends on the cross section
shape and the number of lines of transverse fasteners

a) I or H sections with flange widths not less than two-thirds the depth, and
structural T’s cut from these sections, when only the flanges are connected with:

i) three or more transverse lines of fasteners, A'ne = 0,90 Ane

b) for angles (L) connected by:

i) only one leg with four or more transverse lines of fasteners, A'ne = 0,80 Ane
ii) fewer than four transverse lines of fasteners, A'ne = 0,60 Ane

c) for all other structural sections connected with:

i) three or more transverse lines of fasteners, A'ne = 0,85 Ane

ii) with two transverse lines of fasteners, A'ne = 0,75 Ane
Note: The number of “transverse lines of fasteners” is the
number of lines of fasteners perpendicular to the direction
of the tensile force.
 SHEAR LAG – WELDED CONNECTIONS

Sketch from Structural Steel Design for SANS 10162:1-2005, Greg Parrott
SHEAR LAG – WELDED CONNECTIONS
SANS 10162:1 § 12.3.3.3

Shear lag welded connections

A’ne = lesser of Ane1 + Ane3 or Ane2 +Ane3 (must be ≤ Ag)

a) Elements connected by transverse welds, Ane1 = w1t

b) Elements connected by longitudinal welds along two parallel edges, Ane2

i) when L ≥ 2w1, Ane2 = w1t

ii) when 2w1 > L ≥ w1, Ane2 = 0,50 w1t + 0,25Lt
iii) when w1 > L, Ane2 = 0,75 Lt

L = average length of welds on the two edges

w1 = plate width (distance between longitudinal welds)
SHEAR LAG – WELDED CONNECTIONS
SANS 10162:1 § 12.3.3.3

Shear lag welded connections

c) Elements connected by a single longitudinal weld, Ane3

The outstanding leg of an angle is considered connected by the single line

of weld along the heel.

when L ≥ w2, Ane3 = (1-x/L)(w2-t)t

when w2 > L, Ane3 = 0,50 Lt

x = eccentricity of the weld with respect to centroid of the unconnected

element
L = length of weld in the direction of the loading

Note:
Ane2 is not added to where the same element is connected by both a
transverse and longitudinal element
SHEAR LAG – WELDED CONNECTIONS
SANS 10162:1 § 12.3.3.3
 SIN 415
STRUCTURAL STEEL DESIGN

THEME 2-1
TENSION MEMBERS:

EXAMPLE 2-1
EXAMPLE
Calculate the factored resistance of a 200mm wide, 25mm
thick plate with 24mm diameter bolts and drilled bolt holes
to a tensile force.
fy = 350 MPa and fu = 480 MPa
EXAMPLE

Ag = 200 x 25 = 5000mm2
Ane = Ag – 2dt = 5000 – 2 (24+2) x 25 = 3700mm2

Yielding: Tr = Agfy = 1575kN

Fracture: Tr = 0.85Anefu = 1358.6kN
EXAMPLE
Calculate the factored resistance of a 200mm wide, 25mm
thick plate with 24mm diameter bolts and drilled bolt holes
to a tensile force.
fy = 350 MPa and fu = 480 MPa
 EXAMPLE

Ag = 200 x 25 = 5000mm2
Ane1 = Ag – dt = 5000 – (24+2) x 25 = 4350mm2
Ane2 = Ag – 2dt +s2t/4g = 5000 – 2 (24+2)x25 + (802 x 25)/(4 x 100)
Ane2 = 4100mm2
Yielding: Tr = Agfy = 1575kN
Fracture: Tr = 0.85Ane2fu = 1505.5kN
 SIN 415
STRUCTURAL STEEL DESIGN

THEME 2-1
TENSION MEMBERS:

EXAMPLE 2-2
EXAMPLE
Calculate the factored resistance of the 75x50x6 Angle
shown below, with M12 bolts, holes punched.
fy = 350 MPa and fu = 480 MPa
EXAMPLE

40 40 40 40
3
5

4 27
6

45 = 48 - 6/2

2
28 = 31 - 6/2

19
1
EXAMPLE
EXAMPLE

19 73 -

402

73

120 720

120

576
EXAMPLE

440 576 0.6

720
440
 SIN 415
STRUCTURAL STEEL DESIGN

THEME 2
TENSION MEMBERS:

EXAMPLE 2-3
EXAMPLE
A 125 x 75 x 8 angle section with holes (as shown in the
figure) is in axial tension. The holes have a final diameter
(including tolerances) of 18 mm. Determine the tensile
resistance of the member.
fy = 350 MPa and fu = 480 MPa
EXAMPLE
EXAMPLE
EXAMPLE
EXAMPLE
 SIN 415
STRUCTURAL STEEL DESIGN

THEME 2
TENSION MEMBERS:

EXAMPLE 2-4
EXAMPLE
Calculate the factored tensile resistance of a 200x75
parallel flange channel (Gr 350W) connected to a plate
with 3No. M20 Grade 8.8 bolts as shown. All holes are
punched. The length of the member is 6500mm
EXAMPLE
EXAMPLE
EXAMPLE
EXAMPLE
 SIN 415
STRUCTURAL STEEL DESIGN

THEME 2
TENSION MEMBERS:

EXAMPLE 2-5
EXAMPLE

Calculate the factored tensile resistance of a 100x100x8 L

welded to a plate as shown. The end of the angle is not
welded.
EXAMPLE
EXAMPLE

Calculate the factored tensile resistance of a 100x100x8 L

welded to a plate as shown. The end of the angle is welded
EXAMPLE