Western Philippines University

College of Engineering and Technology

Civil Engineering Department

STRUCTURAL STEEL DESIGN

By Dr. Cesario A. Bacosa , Jr.
( Geotechnical and Structural Engineer)

Module 16. . Lacing and Tie Plates for Built-up Members

Tension Members (NSCP Specifications)
504.3.1 The longitudinal spacing of connectors between elements in continuous contact consisting of a plate
and a shape or two plates shall not exceed:

24 times the thickness of the thinner plate, nor 300 mm for painted members or
unpainted members not subject to corrosion.

14 times the thickness of the thinner plate, nor 175 mm for unpainted members of
weathering steel subject to atmospheric corrosion.
504.3.2 In a tension member the longitudinal spacing of fasteners and intermittent welds connecting two or
more shapes in contact shall not exceed 600 mm. Tension members composed of two or more shapes or
plates separated by intermittent fillers shall be connected to one another at these fillers at intervals such
that the slenderness ratio of either component between the fasteners does not exceed 300.
504.3.3 Either perforated cover plates or tie plates without lacing are permitted on the open sides of built-up
tension members. Tie plates shall have a length not less than 2/3 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 1/50 of the distance between these lines. The longitudinal spacing of intermittent
welds or fasteners at tie plates shall not exceed 150 mm.
504.3.4 The spacing of ties plates shall be such that the slenderness ratio of any component in the length
between tie plates should preferably not exceed 300.
Compression Members (NSCP Specifications)
505.5.3
At the ends of built-up compression members bearing on base plates or milled surfaces, all
components in contact with one another shall be connected by rivets or bolts spaced longitudinally not
more than 4 diameters apart for a distance equal to 3/2 times the maximum width of the member, or
by continuous welds having a length not less than the maximum width of the member.
505.5.4

The longitudinal spacing for intermediate bolts, rivets or intermittent welds in built-up members shall
be adequate to provide for the transfer of calculated stress. The maximum longitudinal spacing of
bolts, rivets or intermittent welds connecting two rolled shapes in contact shall not exceed 600 mm. In
addition, for painted members and unpainted members not subject to corrosion where the outside
component consists of a plate, the maximum longitudinal spacing shall not exceed:
333/ Fy times the thickness of the outside plate nor 300 mm when fasteners are not
staggered along adjacent gage lines.
500 / Fy times the thickness of the outside plate nor 450 mm when fasteners are staggered

505.5.5

along adjacent gage lines.

Compression members composed of two or more rolled shapes separated by intermittent fillers shall
be connected at these fillers at intervals such that the slenderness ratio KL/r or either shape, between
the fasteners does not exceed 3/4 times the governing slenderness ratio of the built-up member. The
least radius of gyration shall be used in computing the slenderness ratio of each component part. At
least two intermediate connectors shall be used along the length of the built-up member.

505.5.6

All connections, including those at the ends, shall be welded or shall utilize high-strength bolts
tightened to the requirements of Table 510-12.

505.5.7

Open sides of compression members built-up from plates or shapes shall be provided with lacing
having tie plates at each end and at intermediate points if the lacing is interrupted. Tie plates shall be
as near the ends as practicable. In main members carrying calculated stress, the end tie plates shall
have a length of not less than the distance between the lines of fasteners or welds connecting them to
the component member. Intermediate tie plates shall have a length not less than 1/2 of this distance.
The thickness of tie plates shall not be less than 1/50 of the distance between lines of fasteners or
welds connecting them to the component member. In bolted and riveted construction, the spacing in
the direction of stress in tie plates shall not be more than 6 diameters and the tie plates shall be
connected to each component by at least 3 fasteners. In welded construction, the welding on each line
connecting a tie plate shall aggregate not less than 1/3 the length of the plate.

505.5.8

Lacing, including flat bars, angles, channels or other shapes employed as lacing, shall be so spaced
that the ratio l/r of the flange included between their connections shall not exceed 3/4 times the
governing ratio for the member as a whole. Lacing shall be proportioned to resist a shearing stress
normal to the axis of the member equal to 2% of the total compressive stress in the member. The ratio
l/r for lacing bars arranged in single systems shall not exceed 140. For double lacing this ratio shall
not exceed 200. Double lacing bars shall be joined at their intersections. For lacing bars in
compression the unsupported length of the lacing bar shall be taken as the distance between fasteners
or welds connecting it to the component of the built-up member for single lacing, and 70% of that
distance for double lacing. The inclination of lacing bars to the axis of the member shall preferably be
not less than 600 for single lacing and 450 for double lacing. When the distance between the lines of
fasteners or welds in the flanges is more than 380 mm, the lacing preferably shall be double or be
made of angles.

505.8.9

The function of tie plates and lacing may be performed by continuous cover plates perforated with
access holes. The unsupported width of such plates at access holes, as defined in Section 502.6, is
assumed available to resist axial stress, provided that: the width-to-thickness ratio conforms to the
limitations of Section 502.6; the ratio of length (in direction of stress) to width of holes shall not exceed
2; the clear distance between holes in the direction of stress shall not be less than the transverse
distance between nearest lines of connecting fasteners or welds; and the periphery of the holes at all
points shall have a minimum radius of 38 mm.

Additional provisions from AISC: For secondary members an increased allowable stress may be used and
computed using the following formula:
F
L
MF 1.6
Fas a

MF
200r

Example 701. Using the NSCP specification design bolted single lacing for the column carrying a compressive
force of 1250 kN with an effective length of 6.10 m and Fy = 250 MPa. Properties of C310x45: A = 5690 mm2, d =
305 mm, Ix = 67.3x106 mm4, Iy = 2.12x106 mm4, rx = 109 mm, ry = 19.3 mm, x = 17.0 mm
y

Solution:

305
mm

305
mm

50
m

205
mm

50
m

1) Properties of column section:

I x 2(67.3x106 ) 134.6x106 mm4
I x 2 2.12 x106 5690(135.5)2 213.18x106 mm4
A 2(5690) 11380 mm2

134.6 x106
108.8 mm
11380
KL 6100

56.1 mm
r
108.8
2) Design of lacing:
2.1) check if single lacing can be used
distance between lines of bolts = 205 mm < 380 mm;
Therefore, single lacing Ok.
2.2) Spacing of lacing bars
Assume an inclination of 60o with axis of member:
a
a 205/ sin60 237 mm
2.3) Check slenderness ratio of individual component
for one channel between connection,
KL 237

12.3 56.1 OK.

r
19.3
2.4) Force on lacing bar:
H 0.02P 0.02(1250) 25 kN
H / 2 25/ 2 12.5 kN (force on each plane of lacing)
F 12.5/sin60 14.434 kN
2.5) Determine thickness of lacing bars based on slenderness requirement
for flat bar: I bt 3 /12 , A bt
least r

60o

205 mm

bt 3 /12
0.289t
bt
l
237
140
max. 140 ,
r
0.289t
t 5.85 mm, say 6 mm flat bar.
r

2.6) Allowable axial stress [NSCP 505.1.1]

r 0.289(6) 1.734 mm
2 2 (200 x103 )
125.7
250
Kl
237

136.7 Cc
use Equation (505-2)
r 1.734
1.03x106 1.03x106
Fa

55.12 MPa
( KL / r )2 (136.7)2
2.7) Adjust allowable axial stress (AISC)
l
136.7
MF 1.6
1.6
0.92
200r
200
F
55.12
Fas a
60.14 MPa
MF 0.9165
2.8) Compute required area and width of lacing bars
F 14434
240
A

240 mm2, b
40 mm
Fas 60.14
6
Cc

If 20 mm bolts are used min. edge distance = 35 mm,

Therefore, use 6x70 mm flat bar.

reqd b = 2(35) = 70 mm

3) Design of End Tie plates: (NSCP 505.5.7)

3.1) Length of end tie plate
Min. length = 205 mm
3.2) Thickness of tie plate
1
t (205) 4.10 mm, say 6 mm
50
Therefore, use 6x205x300 mm PLs.