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DESIGN OF AXIALLY LOADED TENSION MEMBERS

A Tension member transmits a direct axial force (pull) between two points in a structural element.

A member subject to axial tension extends and tends to remain straight or, if there is a small initial
curvature, to straighten out as the axial load is increased. Tension members (ties) occur in trusses,
bracing and hangers for floor beams.

A flat can be used as a tie, but this is generally impractical because it buckles if it goes into
compression. Tie sections are therefore angles and tees for small loads and ‘I’ sections for larger
loads.

A tension member extends when subject to an axial load and is deemed to have failed when the
yield or ultimate stress is reached.
Gross area Vs Net Area of the cross section.

The gross cross-sectional area is the area as calculated from the specified size. The net area is the
gross cross sectional area less deductions for rivet holes, bolt holes, open holes or any other
deductions.

In making deductions for holes, the diameter of the hole is taken in excess of the nominal diameter
of the connector by amounts specified in design codes. Bolt diameter+2mm clearance for bolts not
exceeding 24mm in diameter or Bolt diameter+3mm clearance for bolts exceeding 24mm in
diameter are typical considerations.

a) For non-staggered holes

Anet = A – Σd0t

b) For staggered holes

If a tension member connection is made with
bolts, the net area will be maximized if the
fasteners are placed in a single line.
Sometimes space limitations necessitate use
of more than one line. In such cases, the
reduction in cross sectional area is
maximized if the fasteners are arranged in a where:
staggered pattern. t is the thickness of the plate
p is the spacing of the centres of the same two
holes measured perpendicular to the member
axis

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The total area to be deducted should be taken
as the maximum sum of the sectional areas of
the holes on any line perpendicular to the
member axis
s is the staggered pitch of the two consecutive
holes
n is the number of holes extending in any
diagonal or zig-zag line progressively across
the section
d0 is the diameter of the hole

Effective area

A connection almost always weakens the member and the measure of its influence is called the
joint efficiency. This factor is a function of ductility of the material, fastener spacing, stress
concentrations of the holes, fabrication procedure and shear lag. Shear lag is the most important.
Shear lag occurs when some elements of the cross section are not connected e.g. when only one
leg of the angle is connected to a gusset plate.

The consequence of this partial connection is that the connected part becomes overloaded and the
unconnected part is not fully stressed. Lengthening the connected region will reduce this effect.
Research has shown that shear lag can be accounted for by using a reduced or effective area.

Angles as Tension Members (cl 4.13, EN 1993-1-8 (2005))

Generally angles are connected by one leg at the end of the member and this introduces an eccentric
load. Thus under increasing load the bending stresses become concentrated more towards the ends
of the member.
Generally eccentrically loaded members are designed to resist an axial load and bending moment.
However angle and tee experiments have demonstrated that the above effects could be
compensated for in design by reducing the cross-sectional area of the member. If there are holes
then these also reduce the area of the cross-section
Angles may be treated as axially loaded members provided that the net area is reduced to the
effective area (cl 4.13, EN 1993-1-8 (2005)). For an equal angle, or an unequal angle connected
by the larger leg the effective area is the gross area. For an unequal angle connected by the smaller
leg the effective area is twice that of the smaller leg.
For Angles Connected by a single row of bolts, the consideration for eccentricity should be made
in calculating the ultimate resistance (BS EN 1993-1-8, Cl.3.10.3 (2)).

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For 1 bolt (eqn.3.11) For 2 Bolts (eqn.3.12) For 3 bolts (eqn. 3.13)

β2 and β3 are reduction factors dependent on the pitch p1.

Anet is the net area of the angle. For an
unequal-leg angle connected by its
smaller leg, Anet should be taken as
equal to the net section area of an
equivalent equal-leg angle of leg size
equal to that of the smaller leg.

Design Value of a Tension Member (cl 6.2.3, EN 1993-1-1 (2005))

The design value of the tensile force NEd at each cross-section should satisfy (Eq. (6.5), EN 1993-
1-1 (2005))
𝑁𝐸𝑑 ≤ 𝑁𝑡,𝑅𝑑
Where Nt,Rd is the design tension resistance taken as the smaller of:
a) The design plastic resistance of the gross cross-section (Eq. (6.6), EN 1993-1-1
(2005)).This is concerned with the yielding of the gross cross-section.
𝐴𝑓𝑦
𝑁𝑝𝑙,𝑅𝑑 =
𝛾𝑀0
b) The design ultimate resistance of the net cross-section at holes for fasteners (Eq. (6.7), EN
1993-1-1 (2005)). This is concerned with the ultimate fracture of the net cross-section,
which will normally occur at fastener holes.
0.9𝐴𝑛𝑒𝑡 𝑓𝑢
𝑁𝑢,𝑅𝑑 =
𝛾𝑀2
c) For category C connections (Slip resistant connections in shear), the design ultimate
resistance of the net cross-section at holes for bolt fasteners which are preloaded or non-
preloaded (Eq. (6.8), EN 1993-1-1 (2005) and cl 3.4.2.1(1),EN 1993-1-8 (2005))

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𝐴𝑛𝑒𝑡 𝑓𝑦
𝑁𝑛𝑒𝑡,𝑅𝑑 =
𝛾𝑀0

Example 1: An angle in tension connected by one leg. A 100×65×7mm single angle tie is
connected through the smaller leg by two 20mm diameter bolts in line with a pitch of 2.5d0.
Determine the design ultimate resistance of the angle assuming S275 steel.
Reference Calculations

All references in this section are to BS EN1993-1-1 (Eurocode 3) and its UK National Annex unless stated
otherwise.

Gross area of angle=1120mm2 (Section Tables).

𝑡
area of leg of angle =t (𝐿 − 2)
7
Gross area of unconnected leg of angle =7 (100 − 2)=675.5mm2
7
Gross area of connected leg of angle =7 (65 − 2)=430.5mm2
Net area of angle =Agross-area of holes
Area of holes = d0t = (20+2)7=154mm2
Net area of angle = 675.5+430.5-154=952mm2

cl 4.13, BS EN Effective area of angle section = 2*430.5=861mm2

1993-1-8
Effective net area if twice the area of the smaller leg, accounting for any holes for
connectors.
Effective net area of angle =Agross-area of holes = 2(430.5)-154=707mm2
Eq. (6.6) The design plastic resistance of the gross cross-section
𝐴𝑓𝑦 861 ∗ 275
𝑁𝑝𝑙,𝑅𝑑 = = = 236.8𝑘𝑁
𝛾𝑀0 1
Eq. (6.7) Design ultimate tensile resistance of the net cross-section for a two bolt angle connection
0.9𝐴𝑛𝑒𝑡 𝑓𝑢 0.9∗707𝑥410
𝑁𝑢,𝑅𝑑 = = =208.8kN
𝛾𝑀2 1.25

Eqn (3.12) BS An additional check for connection capacity with bolts in a single row would have to be
EN 1993-1-8 made to account for eccentricity. β2 =0.4.

𝛽2 𝐴𝑛𝑒𝑡 𝑓𝑢 0.4 ∗ 707 ∗ 410

𝑁𝑢,𝑅𝑑 = = = 92.8𝑘𝑁
𝛾𝑀2 1.25
Therefore the Ultimate tensile resistance of the section is the 92.8kN.

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Example 2: A tie member of a roof truss is subjected to an ultimate tension of 1000kN. Design
this member using S275 steel and an equal angle section.
Reference Calculations

All references in this section are to BS EN1993-1-1 (Eurocode 3) and its UK National Annex unless stated
otherwise.
𝑓𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑜𝑟𝑒𝑑 𝑙𝑜𝑎𝑑 𝐴𝑟𝑒𝑎 𝑟𝑒𝑞𝑢𝑖𝑟𝑒𝑑 ≥
1000𝑥103
=3636.4mm2
𝐴𝑟𝑒𝑎 𝑟𝑒𝑞𝑢𝑖𝑟𝑒𝑑 ≥ 275
𝑑𝑒𝑠𝑖𝑔𝑛 𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑔𝑡ℎ
Try L 150x150x15 connected on one leg by welding. Areasection=43cm2

cl 4.13, BS EN Effective area of angle section =Agross (equal angle)= 43mm2

1993-1-8

Eq. (6.6) The design plastic resistance of the gross cross-section

𝐴𝑓𝑦 4300 ∗ 275
𝑁𝑝𝑙,𝑅𝑑 = = = 1182.5𝑘𝑁
𝛾𝑀0 1
Eq. (6.7) Design ultimate tensile resistance of the net cross-section
0.9𝐴𝑛𝑒𝑡 𝑓𝑢 0.9∗4300𝑥410
𝑁𝑢,𝑅𝑑 = = =1269.4kN
𝛾𝑀2 1.25

Eq. (6.5) Therefore the Ultimate tensile resistance of the section is the 1182.5kN(Nt,Rd) and
since this is greater than 1000kN (NEd), section is adequate.

Example 3:
A steel frame building is stabilized by tension
only diagonal bracing which forms a vertical
pin jointed framework. The storey height is 4m
and the bay width is 5m. The unfactored wind
load is 30kN at the first and 2nd floor and
15kN at the roof level. Design a section for the
diagonal members.

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Reference Calculations

All references in this section are to BS EN1993-1-1 (Eurocode 3) and its UK National Annex unless stated
otherwise.

The maximum tension is at the bottom of the frame.

∑ 𝐹𝑥 = 0; 𝐻𝐴 = 30 + 30 + 15 = 75𝑘𝑁

75√41
𝑇𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃 = 𝐻𝐴 ; 𝑇 = = 96𝑘𝑁
5
Note: although there are no limitations applied to slenderness in ties, it is worth noting that
BS5950 gave limitations of λ<350 for members in tension.
Serviceability limit state:
𝐿𝑒𝑓𝑓 6403
λ<350; 𝑖 ≥ .𝑖 ≥ = 18.3𝑚𝑚
350 350

Try a 100x100x8 equal angle section in steel grade S275, ivv=1.96, A=15.5cm2

Ultimate limit state

Design tension = γf x characteristic tensile force =1.5 x 96 = 144kN

Eq. (6.6) The design plastic resistance of the gross cross-section

𝐴𝑓𝑦 1550 ∗ 275
𝑁𝑝𝑙,𝑅𝑑 = = = 426𝑘𝑁
𝛾𝑀0 1
Eq. (6.7) Design ultimate tensile resistance of the net cross-section. Assume the connection has 2
M20 bolts in line across the section.

Hole diameter = 20+2=22mm. Anet=15.5-(2.2x0.8x2)=11.98cm2

0.9𝐴𝑛𝑒𝑡 𝑓𝑢 0.9∗1198𝑥410
𝑁𝑢,𝑅𝑑 = = =353.6kN
𝛾𝑀2 1.25

Eq. (6.5) Therefore the Ultimate tensile resistance of the section is the 353.6kN (Nt,Rd) and
since this is greater than 144kN (NEd), section is adequate.

Note: the closer the ratio

𝑁𝐸𝑑
𝑁𝑜𝑡𝑒: 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑐𝑙𝑜𝑠𝑒𝑟 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜 𝑖𝑠 𝑐𝑙𝑜𝑠𝑒𝑟 𝑡𝑜 1, 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑚𝑜𝑟𝑒 𝑒𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑜𝑚𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑙 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑠𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛
𝑁𝑡,𝑅𝑑

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