Example

Program: RFEM 5, RF-STEEL AISC

Category: Design Check

Verification Verification Example: 1002 – AISC D.1 - W-Shape Tension Member

1002 – AISC D.1 - W-Shape Tension Member

Description
An ASTM A992 W-shape member—with parameters defined in the table below—is selected to
carry a dead load of 30.000 kips and a live load of 90.000 kips in tension. Verify the member
strength by both LRFD and ASD, see [1], with the bolted end connection, as shown in Figure 1.
Verify that the member satisfies the recommended slenderness limit. Assume that connection
limit states do not govern.

Material Modulus of
E 29000.000 ksi
Elasticity

Yield
Fy 50.000 ksi
Strength

Ultimate
Fu 65.000 ksi
Strength

Geometry Structure Length L 25.000 ft

Cross-section Gross Area Ag 6.160 in2

W 8×21
Flange Width bf 5.270 in

Depth d 8.280 in

Flange
tf 0.400 in
Thickness

Radius of
ry 1.260 in
Gyration

Load Dead PD 30.000 kips

Live PL 90.000 kips

3/4" dia. bolts 1 14 " 3 @ 3.000"

z z PD + PL
y x
W8

Figure 1: Connection geometry for Example D.1

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Verification Example: 1002 – AISC D.1 - W-Shape Tension Member

AISC Solution
The WT-shape corresponding to a W 8×21 is a WT 4×10.5. From AISC Manual Table 1-8, the
geometric properties are WT 4×10.5 and ȳ = 0.831 in.

1 Tensile Yielding
From AISC Manual Table 5-1, the available tensile yielding strength of a W 8×21 is

LRFD ASD

𝜙t Pn = 277.000 > 180.000 kips Pn /𝛺t = 184.000 > 120.000 kips

2 Tensile Rupture
Verify the table assumption that Ae /Ag ≥ 0.750 for this connection, where

Ae = An U (1002 – 1)

is the effective net area—the product of the net area An and the shear lag factor U as per AISC
Specification Section D3.

First, calculate U as the larger of the values from AISC Specification Section D3, Table D3.1 Case 2
and Case 7.

Section D3: for open cross-sections, U need not be less than the ratio of the gross area of the
connected element(s) to the member gross area,

2bf tf
U= ≈ 0.684 (1002 – 2)
Ag

Table D3.1 Case 2: Determine U based on two WT-shapes per AISC Specification Commentary
Figure C-D3.1, with x̄ = ȳ = 0.831 in and connection length l = 9.000 in,

x̄
U=1− ≈ 0.908 (1002 – 3)
l

Table D3.1 Case 7: Because the flange is connected with three or more fasteners per line in the
direction of loading and bf = 5.270 < 23 d = 5.520, the shear lag factor is taken

U = 0.850 (1002 – 4)

Therefore, comparing (1002 – 2), (1002 – 3), and (1002 – 4), use the larger U = 0.908.

Secondly, for (1002 – 1), calculate An using AISC Specification Section B4.3b

1
An = Ag − 4 ⋅ dℎ + ⋅ t ≈ 4.760 in2 (1002 – 5)
16 f

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 Verification Example: 1002 – AISC D.1 - W-Shape Tension Member

Substituting (1002 – 5) and (1002 – 3) into (1002 – 1), there is

Ae = An U ≈ 4.320 in2 (1002 – 6)

Hence,

Ae
≈ 0.701 < 0.750 (1002 – 7)
Ag

Because Ae /Ag < 0.750, the tensile rupture strength from AISC Manual Table 5-1 is not valid. The
available tensile rupture strength is determined using AISC Specification Section D2 as follows

Pn = Fu Ae = 281.000 kips (1002 – 8)

From AISC Specification Section D.2, the available tensile rupture strength is

LRFD ASD

𝜙t = 0.750 𝛺t = 2.000
𝜙t Pn = 211.000 > 180.000 kips Pn /𝛺t = 141.000 > 120.000 kips

Note that the W 8×21 available tensile strength is governed by the tensile rupture limit state at
the end connection versus the tensile yielding limit state.1

The Recommended Slenderness Limit per AISC Specification Section D.1 is met

L 25 ⋅ 12
= = 238.000 in < 300.000 in (1002 – 9)
r 1.26

RFEM 5 Settings

• Modeled in RFEM 5.14.03

• Isotropic linear elastic model is used
• Shear stiffness of members is activated

Results

Design Tensile Failure AISC Solution RFEM Solution Ratio

[kips] [kips] [-]

Yielding 277.202 277.000 1.001

LRFD
Rupture 210.703 211.000 0.999

Yielding 184.432 184.000 1.002

ASD
Rupture 140.469 141.000 0.996

1
See Chapter J for illustrations of connection limit state checks.

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Verification Example: 1002 – AISC D.1 - W-Shape Tension Member

Available Yielding/Tensile Strength

1 LRFD

Example Tensile Failure RFEM Solution AISC Solution Ratio

(Shape) [kips] [kips] [-]

D.2 Yielding 121.501 122.000 0.996

(L 4×4×1/2) Rupture 125.124 125.000 1.001

D.3 Yielding 262.802 263.000 0.999

(WT 6×20) Rupture 244.844 245.000 0.999

D.4 Yielding 278.102 278.000 1.000

(HSS
6×4×0.375) Rupture 242.313 242.000 1.001

D.5 Yielding 334.928 335.000 0.999

(HSS 6×0.500) Rupture 352.007 352.000 1.000

D.6 Yielding 243.002 243.000 1.000

(2LA4×4×1/2
(3/8" Gap)) Rupture 272.256 272.000 1.001

2 ASD

Example Tensile Failure RFEM Solution AISC Solution Ratio

(Shape) [kips] [kips] [-]

D.2 Yielding 80.839 80.800 1.001

(L 4×4×1/2) Rupture 83.416 83.500 0.999

D.3 Yielding 174.851 175.000 0.999

(WT 6×20) Rupture 163.229 163.000 1.001

D.4 (HSS Yielding 185.0311 185.000 1.000

6×4×0.375) Rupture 161.542 162.000 0.997

D.5 Yielding 222.840 223.000 0.999

(HSS 6×0.500) Rupture 234.672 235.000 0.999

D.6 Yielding 161.678 162.000 0.998

(2LA4×4×1/2
(3/8" Gap)) Rupture 180.735 182.000 0.993

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Verification Example: 1002 – AISC D.1 - W-Shape Tension Member

Figure 2: RFEM 5 Results - Axial Forces (LRFD)

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Verification Example: 1002 – AISC D.1 - W-Shape Tension Member

References
[1] AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF STEEL CONSTRUCTION, Specification for Structural Steel Buildings.
2015.

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