Structural Design (II) Spring 2012 Building Engineering Program

Dr. Ahmed Hassan yousef Tension Members 1

LECTURE (4): DESIGN OF TENSION MEMBERS


4.1 Introduction:
Tension members are those structural elements, which are subjected to tensile axial forces. They
are encountered in most of steel structures. Some examples of tension members are: truss
members, hangers, cables, bracing members in multistory buildings and tie rods, as shown in
figure (4.1).

L = Span of truss
L

=

L
e
n
g
t
h

o
f

m
e
m
b
e
r
TIE MEMBER
L = Length of member


Fig. (4.1) Some Examples of Steel Tension Members
Structural Design (II) Spring 2012 Building Engineering Program
Dr. Ahmed Hassan yousef Tension Members 2
4.2 Types of Sections Used For Tension Members:

y
T-Sections
x
Channel Sections
x
I-Sections
y
x x
y
Double angles Star-Shaped Single angle Hollow Sections


4.3 Allowable Tensile Stresses:

The allowable tensile stress is specified in the Egyptian code as a function of the yield
strength as follow:
F
t
= 0.58 F
y


F
t
=1.4 t/cm
2
st.37
=1.6 t/cm
2
st.44 for members having thickness t < 40 mm.
=2.1 t/cm
2
st.52

These values for the allowable tensile stress (F
t
) may be increased by 20 % if the actual
forces are calculated from case of loading II.

4.4 Design Concept:
The choice of a section for tension members should satisfy the following checks:

1) Check of Stress:
f
act
. = Force/A
net
s F
t
=0.58 F
y


Where A
net
is the effective net area which resists the tensile force in the member

2) Check of Depth:
L/d =s 60

3) Check of Stiffness: (Maximum slenderness ratio of a tension member)

max
= L
b
/r
min
=s 300
Structural Design (II) Spring 2012 Building Engineering Program
Dr. Ahmed Hassan yousef Tension Members 3
The effective net area A
net

A tension member in a truss is connected by bolts or welds at the member ends to either
other members or gusset plates (connection plates). For bolted connection, the net area of the
member at the connection is reduced by the holes areas. While for welded connection, the net area
of the member is equal the gross area.
l=84
l=62
l=50
l=100
Welded Connection
l=80
Bolted Connection


For bolted connection:
A
net
= [A
gross
- A
holes
]
= [A
gross
- n*(|+0.2 cm) x t]

Where; t = the thickness of the member at which the
hole lies.
n= number of bolts in the cross section
perpendicular to loading direction.
|= bolt diameter (note that the hole diameter
exceeds the bolt diameter by 2 mm)


For welded connection:
A
net
= A
gross
of the member
n=2
n=1
Structural Design (II) Spring 2012 Building Engineering Program
Dr. Ahmed Hassan yousef Tension Members 4
Depth, Minimum and Maximum Radius of Gyration for different members:

Symmetric Sections: two angles back-to-back
Used in chord members of truss as well as in web members of high values of force.
- Depth (d) = a
- Minimum radius of gyration is (r
x
):
) 1 (
) 1 (
) 1 (
) 2 (
) 2 (
) 2 (
* 2
* 2
L x
L g
L x
L g
L x
L x
r
A
I
A
I
r = = = (In tables)
and approximately r
x
~ 0.3 a
- Maximum radius of gyration is (r
y
):

2
.
2
1 ) 2 (
) 1 (
2
. ) 1 ( ) 1 (
) 2 (
) 2 (
) 2 (
) 2 (
* 2
] ) 2 ( * [ * 2
PL G L y L y
L g
PL G L g L y
L g
L y
L y
t e r r
A
t e A I
A
I
r
+ + =
+ +
= =

and approximately r
y
~ 0.45 a
- =
max
The maximum of

=
=

L y
out b
out
L x
in b
in
r
L
r
L
2
1

For chord truss tension members:
L
b-in
= member length and L
b-out
=distance between longitudinal bracing.

Unsymmetrical Sections: Single Angles
Used in Vertical and diagonal members of truss
- Depth (d) = a
- Minimum radius of gyration is (r
v
) (In tables)
and approximately r
v
~ 0.2 a
-
L v
b
v
r
L
1
max
max

= =

Symmetric Sections: Star-Shaped
Used in Vertical members of truss at intersection with longitudinal bracing, and for long tension
members
- Depth (d) = 2a+tg
- Minimum radius of gyration is (r
u
) (In tables)
and approximately r
v
~ 0.38 a
-
L u
b
u
r
L
1
max
max

= =
t g.pl.
t g.pl.
Structural Design (II) Spring 2012 Building Engineering Program
Dr. Ahmed Hassan yousef Tension Members 5
4.5 Applications
[I] Design of Symmetrical Sections:
Symmetrical sections are defined as the sections where
their center of gravity coincides with the center of gravity of the
gusset plates connecting them. Sections composed of two
angles back-to-back and two angles star shaped are exampled
of symmetric sections.

A) Choice of section for bolted connection:

Assuming area of holes: A
|
= 15 % A
gross

A
g-2L
= Force/0.85F
t
=cm
2

A
g-1L
= (A
g-2L
)/2 =cm
2

From tables: Choose angle a x a x t
Where minimum angle for construction (a-t)
min
= 3|
Not less than angle 45 x 45 x 5

Checks:
A
net
=2[A
g
- (|+0.2 cm) x t]
Hence, the three checks are made as discussed before in clause 3.4.

B) Choice of section for welded connection:
A
g-2L
=Force/F
t
=cm
2

A
g-1L
= (A
g-2L
)/2 =cm
2

From tables: Choose angle a x a x t
Where minimum angle 45 x 45 x 5

Checks:
A
net
=2A
g

Hence, the three checks are made as discussed before in clause 3.4.
e p p
e
e
e = edge distance
p = Pitch distance
emin = 1.5 * |
pmin= 3.0 * |
where | is the bolt diameter
Force
t g.pl.
Structural Design (II) Spring 2012 Building Engineering Program
Dr. Ahmed Hassan yousef Tension Members 6
[II] Design of Unsymmetrical Sections:
Due to the eccentricity between the member
and gusset plate, the net area of the member
should be calculated from the following
equation:
A
net
=A
1
+
2 1
1
3
3
A A
A
+
x A
2

Where; A
1
is the net area of connected leg and
A
2
is the net area of unconnected leg.

A) Choice of section for bolted connection:
A
(g-1L)
= Force/(0.65*F
t
) =cm
2

From tables: Choose angle a x a x t
Where minimum angle for construction (a-t)
min
= 3|
Not less than angle 45 x 45 x 5

Checks:
A
1
=[a- (| +0.2 cm)] x t
A
2
=(a-t) x t
A
net
=A
1
+
2 1
1
3
3
A A
A
+
x A
2

Hence, the three checks are made as discussed before in clause 3.4.

B) Choice of section for welded connection:
A
(g-1L)
= Force/(0.85*F
t
) =cm
2

From tables: Choose angle a x a x t
Where minimum angle 45 x 45 x 5

Checks:
A
1
=a t
A
2
=(a-t) t
A
net
=A
1
+
2 1
1
3
3
A A
A
+
x A
2

Hence, the three checks are made as discussed before in clause 3.4.
A1 (net area of connected leg)
A2 (net area of unconnected leg)
A1 (net area of connected leg)
A2 (net area of unconnected leg)
Structural Design (II) Spring 2012 Building Engineering Program
Dr. Ahmed Hassan yousef Tension Members 7
Design of Truss Members:

The positions of field splices should be determined considering that the maximum length
of the transported part is less than 12m.

Field connections should be bolted since welding is not recommended in the field.

All connections within the same part are welded. Therefore, tension members that are
located at field splice locations are designed as bolted members while the rest of the
members are designed as welded ones.
10 m
L = 14 x 2.0 = 28.0 m
Bolted
Member
Welded
Member
10 m 8 m
Field
connection
Field
connection




Structural Design (II) Spring 2012 Building Engineering Program
Dr. Ahmed Hassan yousef Tension Members 8
Example (1):
For the shown truss, design the two marked members, member (1) of the lower chord and
member (2) of the diagonal member. The force in the chord member is 11.0 t (Case I) and in
the diagonal member is 8.0 t (Case I). The members are bolted to the gusset plates at the truss
joints using |=16mm. Steel used is steel 37.

1.5 m
1
2
10 : 1
L = 10 x 2.0 = 20.0 m


A) Design of Lower chord Member (1): F = +11 t
Choice of section as two angles back to back:
A
g(2L)
= 24 . 9
4 . 1 * 85 . 0
11
* 85 . 0
= =
t
F
Force
cm
2

A
g(1L)
=
2
24 . 9
= 4.62 cm
2
(angle 50x5 A
g
= 4.8
cm
2
)
Min angle for construction (a-t)
min
= 3*| = 3*16 = 48 mm

Choose two angles back to back 2Ls 55x55x5

Check:

1) Check of stresses:
A
net(2Ls)
= 2*[A
gross
A
hole
]
(1L)
= 2*[5.32-(1.6+0.2)*0.5] = 8.84 cm
2

f
act.
=
84 . 8
11
=1.244 t/cm
2
< 1.4 t/cm
2
Safe
2) Check of depth:
4 . 36
5 . 5
200
= =
d
L
< 60
Structural Design (II) Spring 2012 Building Engineering Program
Dr. Ahmed Hassan yousef Tension Members 9
3) Check of stiffness:

x
=
66 . 1
200
) 2 (
=
Ls x
x
r
L
= 120.5 < 300
cm r
Ls y
61 . 2 ) 2 / 0 . 1 52 . 1 ( ) 66 . 1 (
2 2
) 2 (
= + + =

y
=
61 . 2
200 * 3
) 2 (
=
Ls y
y
r
L
= 229.5 < 300

B) Design of Diagonal Member (2): F = +8.0 t
L= m 76 . 2 ) 4 . 0 5 . 1 ( ) 2 (
2 2
= + +
Choice of section as one angle:
A
g(1L)
= 8 . 8
4 . 1 * 65 . 0
8
* 65 . 0
= =
t
F
Force
cm
2

Choose one angle 1L 65x65x7 (A
g
= 8.7 cm
2
)
Check:

1) Check of stresses:
A
1
= [6.5-(1.6+0.2)]*0.7=3.29 cm
2

A
2
= (6.5-0.7)*0.7=4.06
A
net
= 3.29 + (
06 . 4 29 . 3 * 3
29 . 3 * 3
+
)*4.06 = 6.17 cm
2

f
act
=
17 . 6
8
= 1.297 t/cm
2
<1.4 t/cm
2
Safe
2) Check of depth:
5 . 42
5 . 6
276
= =
d
L
< 60
3) Check of stiffness:

v
=
26 . 1
276
=
v
r
L
= 219 < 300
Structural Design (II) Spring 2012 Building Engineering Program
Dr. Ahmed Hassan yousef Tension Members 10
Example (2):
Redesign the two marked members of the example (1) if the members are welded to the gusset
plates.
A) Design of Lower chord Member (1): F = +11 t
A
g(2L)
= 86 . 7
4 . 1
11
= =
t
F
Force
cm
2
A
g(1L)
=
2
86 . 7
= 3.93 cm
2

Choose two angles back to back 2Ls 45x45x5 (A
g
= 4.3 cm
2
)

Check:

1) Check of stresses:
f
act.
=
3 . 4 * 2
11
=1.28 t/cm
2
< 1.4 t/cm
2
Safe
2) Check of depth:
4 . 44
5 . 4
200
= =
d
L
< 60
3) Check of stiffness:

x
=
35 . 1
200
) 2 (
=
Ls x
x
r
L
= 148 < 300
cm r
Ls y
23 . 2 ) 2 / 0 . 1 28 . 1 ( ) 35 . 1 (
2 2
) 2 (
= + + =
y
=
23 . 2
200 * 3
) 2 (
=
Ls y
y
r
L
= 268.6 < 300

B) Design of Diagonal Member (2): F = +8.0 t
A
g
=
4 . 1 * 85 . 0
8
= 6.72 cm
2

Choose one angle 1L 60x60x6 (A
g
= 6.91 cm
2
)
Check:
1) Check of stresses:
A
1
= 6.0*0.6 = 3.6 cm
2
and A
2
= (6.0-0.6)*0.6 = 3.24 cm
2

A
net
=3.6+ (
2
09 . 6 24 . 3 * )
24 . 3 6 . 3 * 3
6 . 3 * 3
cm =
+

f
act.
= 31 . 1
09 . 6
8
= t/cm
2
<1.4 t/cm
2
Safe
2) Check of depth:
46
6
276
= =
d
L
< 60
3) Check of stiffness:
236
17 . 1
276
= = =
v
v
r
L
< 300
Structural Design (II) Spring 2012 Building Engineering Program
Dr. Ahmed Hassan yousef Tension Members 11
Example (3):
Design the marked tension member. Use bolted
connection between member and gusset plates
with |=16mm. Steel used is steel 37.

F=15t (Case I) L=7.0m


Choice of section as two angles Star-Shaped (due
to its big length):
1) A
g(2L)
= 6 . 12
4 . 1 * 85 . 0
15
* 85 . 0
= =
t
F
Force
cm
2

A
g(1L)
= 3 . 6
2
6 . 12
= cm
2
choose angle 60x6 A = 6.91 cm
2

2)
u
= cm r
r r
L
Ls u
Ls u Ls u
u
33 . 2 300
700
) 2 (
) 2 ( ) 2 (
= = = choose angle 65x7, i
u
= 2.47cm
3) Min angle for construction (a-t)
min
= 3*| = 3*16 = 48 mm

Choose two angles Star-Shaped 2Ls 65x65x7


Check:

1) Check of stresses:
A
net(2L2)
=2*[8.7-(1.6+0.2)*0.7]=14.88 cm
2

f
act.
= 01 . 1
88 . 14
15
= t/cm
2
< 1.4 t/cm
2
Safe
2) Check of depth:
d= 2a + t
G
= 2*6.5 + 1.0 = 14.0 cm
50
14
700
= =
d
L
< 60
3) Check of stiffness:

u
= 283
47 . 2
700
) 2 (
= =
Ls r
L
u
< 300

L = 7.0 m
F = 15.0 t
I.P.E300