Western Philippines University

College of Engineering and Technology

Civil Engineering Department
STRUCTURAL STEEL DESIGN
By Dr. Cesario A. Bacosa , Jr.
Module 2. TENSION MEMBERS ( Rivited Connections)
Tension members are found in bridge and roof trusses, towers, bracing system, and in situations where they
are used as tie rods. The selection of a section to be used as a tension member is one of the simplest problems
encountered in design. The member size selection is usually based on an allowable tensile stress and minimum
slenderness requirement to control member vibration.

Types of Tension Members:

flat bar

round bar

Single angle

double angle

structural
tee

W or S shape

channel

built-up Sections

NSCP Specifications
504.1.1. This section applies to prismatic members subject to axial tension caused by forces acting through the
centroidal axis. For members subject to combined axial tension and flexure, see Section 508.3. For members subject
to fatigue, see Section 511.5. For tapered members, see Section 506.8. For threaded rods see Section 510.4.
a) min Ag =

T
0.60 Fy

T 0.60Fy Ag

[NSCP 504.2.1]

b) min Ae =

T
0.50 Fu

T 0.50Fu Ae

[NSCP 504.2.1]

min Ae
T

Ct
0.50 Fu Ct

[NSCP 502.4.2]

c)

Ae Ct An ,

min An

d) min Ag = min An + estimated area of holes

L
e) max 300 for tension members
r
Note: AISC recommends a maximum slenderness ratio of 240 for
main members and 300 for secondary and bracing members.
f) at pinholes for pin-connected members, T 0.45Fy An
g)

for eyebars, T 0.60Fy Ab

[NSCP 502.8.2]

[NSCP 504.4.1.1]
[NSCP 504.4.1.2]

where,
Fy = yield strength of steel
Fu = ultimate tensile stress of steel
Ag = gross area of cross-section
An = net area of cross-section
Ae = effective net area of cross-section
Ct = reduction coefficient
L = unsupported length of member
r = radius of gyration of member cross-section
Table 1. Effective Net Area, Ae (Adapted from NSCP 502.4)
Types of members

(a) Full length tension

members having all crosssectional elements
connected to transmit the
tensile force
(b) Short tension member
fittings, such as splice
plates, gusset plates, or
beam-to-column fittings
(c) W, M, or S rolled
shapes

Minimum
number of
fasteners

Special
requirement

Effective net
area Ae

None

An

502.4.1

None

An 0.85 Ag

502.4.8

(d) Structural tees cut from

sections meeting
requirements (c) above
(e) W, M, or S shapes not
meeting the conditions of
(c), and other shapes
(f) All shapes in (c),
(d),or (e)

b f 23 d

connection is to
flanges

NSCP
section

0.90An

Same as (c)

0.90An

None

0.85An

None

0.75An

502.4.4

502.4.5 When load is transmitted by transverse welds to some but not all of the cross-sectional elements of W, M or
S shapes and structural tees cut from these shapes, Ae shall be taken as the area of the directly connected
elements.
502.4.6 When the load is transmitted to a plate by longitudinal welds along both edges at the end of the plate, the
length of the welds shall not be less than the width of the plate. The effective net area Ae shall be computed
by
Ae Ct Ag
502.4.7 Unless a larger coefficient can be justified by tests or other criteria, the following values of Ct shall be used:
1. when l 2w
Ct 1.00
2. when 2w l 1.5w

Ct 0.87

3. when 1.5w l w

Ct 0.75

where:
l = weld length

w = plate width

502.4.8 Bolted and riveted splice and gusset plate and other connection fittings subject to tensile force, the effective
net area shall be taken as the actual net area, except that, it shall not be taken as greater than 85% of the
gross area.

Problem 101. The AISC specification and A36 steel (Fy = 250 MPa, Fu = 400 MPa) are to be used in selecting a single
angle member to resist a tensile load of 186 kN. The member is to be 5.50 m long and is assumed to be connected
with one row of 22 mm diameter bolts.

Solution:
1)

Compute minimum gross area from [NSCP 504.2.1]

T
186000
min Ag =

1240 mm2
0.60Fy 0.60(250)

2)

Compute minimum gross area from [NSCP 502.4.2]

assume ct = 0.75 and angles 10 mm thick. diameter of hole = 22 + 3 = 25 mm
T
min An
(estimated hole areas )
0.50 Fu Ct
min An

186000
25(10) 1480 mm2
0.50(400)(0.75)

Compute minimum radius of gyration from [NSCP 502.8.2]

L
5500

18.3 mm
min r =
300 300
4) Select a trial angle section
Try 125x125x8 mm angle: A = 1940 mm2, r = 24.8 mm
3)

5) Check tensile capacity based on gross area [NSCP 504.2.1]

T 0.60Fy Ag 0.60(250)(1940)103 291 kN > 186 kN
6)

Check tensile capacity based on effective net area [NSCP 504.2.1]

Ae Ct An 0.751940 25(8) 1305 mm2

T 0.50Fu Ae 0.50(400)(1305)103 261 kN > 186 kN

7)

OK!

Verify slenderness ratio [NSCP 502.8.2]

L 5500

222 300
r 24.8

Therefore, use 125x125x8 mm angle.

OK!
OK!

Problem 102. Select a W310 section to resist a 1740 kN tensile load using A36 steel (F y = 250 MPa, Fu = 400 MPa) and
the AISC specification. The member is to be 9 m long and is connected through its flange only with at least three 22
mm bolts in each line. Assume that there can be as many as four bolts on any one cross-section (two in each flange).
Use ct = 0.90.

Solution:
1)

Compute minimum gross area from [NSCP 504.2.1]

T
1740000
min Ag =

11600 mm2
0.60Fy 0.60(250)

2)

Compute minimum gross area from [NSCP 502.4.2]

From Table1, ct = 0.90 and assume 16 mm thick flanges.
diameter of hole = 22 + 3 = 25 mm
T
min An
(estimated hole areas )
0.50 Fu Ct
min An

1740000
25(16)(4) 11267 mm2
0.50(400)(0.90)

3)

Compute minimum radius of gyration from [NSCP 502.8.2]

L
9000

30 mm
min r =
300 300
4) Select a trial W section
Try W310x97: A = 12300 mm2, tf = 15.4 mm , ry = 76.9 mm
5) Check tensile capacity based on gross area [NSCP 504.2.1]
T 0.60Fy Ag 0.60(250)(12300)103 1845 kN > 1740 kN
8)

Check tensile capacity based on effective net area [NSCP 504.2.1]

Ae Ct An 0.9012300 25(15.4)(4) 9684 mm2

T 0.50Fu Ae 0.50(400)(9684)103 1937 kN > 1740 kN

6)

OK!

Verify slenderness ratio [NSCP 502.8.2]

L 9000

117 300
r 76.9

Therefore, use W310x97 section.

OK!
OK!

Problem Exercises: