5.0.

DESIGN OF TENSION MEMBERS

A tension member transmits a direct axial pull between two
points in a structural frame.
Tension members are very efficient since the entire cross section
carries uniform stress unlike flexural members.
The tension members do not buckle even when stressed beyond
the elastic limit. Hence the design is not affected by the type of
section used i.e., Plastic, Compact or Semi-compact.
The strength of these members is influenced by several factors
such as
 the length of connection
 type of connection (by bolts or welds)
 connection eccentricity
1
5.0. DESIGN OF TENSION MEMBERS
 size and shape of fasteners
 net area of cross-section
 shear lag at the end connection.
Some of the common examples of tension members
in structures are;
 Bottom chord of pin jointed roof trusses,
 Bridges
 Transmission line and communication towers,
 Wind bracing system in multi-storey buildings,
etc
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5.0. DESIGN OF TENSION MEMBERS
Types of sections used as tension members.
The main sections used for tension members
are:
(1) Open sections such as
 angles
 channels
 tees
 universal beams
 Universal columns 4
5.0. DESIGN OF TENSION MEMBERS
Types of sections used as tension members.
The main sections used for tension
members are:
(2)Closed sections. They are hollow
sections.
 Square hollow sections (S.H.S)
 Rectangular hollow sections (R.H.S)
 Circular hollow sections (C.H.S)
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(3) Compound sections . Made of two or 4 sections as
shown below. Double angles and Double channels are
commonly used in roof trusses.

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(4) Built-up sections .
These are structural members made from individual plates
welded or bolted together, based on designer’s
requirement.

(5) Round bars, flats and cables can also be used for
tension members where there is no reversal
of load.

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Design of tension members
Axially loaded tension members
The tension capacity is given in Section 4.6.1 of BS 5950: Part
1, page 79.
Pt = Aepy
Where Ae is the sum of effective net area of the section defined
in Sections 3.4.3 pg 29 of code.
From Section 3.4.3, the effective area of each element of a cross
section is given by:
ae = Ke× an ; ae ≤ ag
Ke = 1.2 for S275
1.1 for S355
1.0 for S460
[Net area (an) = gross area less holes.]
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Design of tension members
Simple tension members
Usually angles are connected to gusset plates
by bolting or welding only one of the two
legs .
This leads to eccentric tension in the member,
causing non-uniform distribution of stress over
the cross section.

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 (1) Single angles, channels or T-section
members connected through one leg
(Section
4.6.3.1:BS 5950-1,pg 79 )
For bolted connection: Pt= py (Ae− 0.5a2)
For welded connection: Pt= py (Ag− 0.3a2)
Where a2 equals (Ag− a1), where Ag is the
gross cross-sectional area
a1is the gross sectional area of the connected
leg. 10
11
(2) Double angles, channels or T-section members
connected through both side of a gusset
(Section 4.6.3.2:BS 5950-1,pg 80 )
For bolted connection: Pt= py(Ae− 0.25a2),
For welded connection: Pt= py(Ag− 0.15a2)

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(3) Double angles, channels connected to same side of
gusset plates or not interconnected as explained in (2) –
Use formula given in (1) as they are treated as
separate members.

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EXAMPLES

A 200x200x16 mm angle section in grade S275 is to be

used as a tie. Firstly the connection will be made by a
welded gusset plate and secondly by two M24 bolts in a
line across the width of the member. Determine the
tension capacity in each case.
Give py= 275 N/mm2
Tmax is ≤ 16 mm; Therefore py= 275 N/mm2
Determine a1 and a2
For connected leg a1 = 200x16 =3200 mm2
From steel table , area of the section = Ag= 61.8 cm2
For unconnected leg a2 = 6180 -3200 = 2980 mm2 14
EXAMPLES
Using welded connection
Tension capacity: Pt = py (Ag− 0.3a2) = 275(6180 − 0.3 ×
2980/103
= 1454 kN.
Using bolted connection
For connected leg,
the net area = an1 = a1-2 x Dh x t
=3200-2 x26 x 16 = 2368 mm2

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EXAMPLES
Diameter of the hole = Dh = 26 mm (Refer Table 33, pg
139, BS 5950- Part 1)
t= thickness of the section = 16 mm.
Effective area = Ke an1 but ≤ ag = 1.2 x 2368 = 2842 mm2
≤ 3200 mm2
Ae = ae1 + a2 = 2842 + 2980 = 5822 mm
2
Tension capacity = Pt = py (Ae-0.5 a2) ref: cl. 4.6.3.1
= 275 (5822-0.5x2980) 10-3
= 1191 kN. 16
DESIGN OF COMPRESSION MEMBERS
Compression members carry axial compressive load. They
are called as column or stanchion.
Compression members, in roof truss and bracing are called
as strut.

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DESIGN OF COMPRESSION MEMBERS
Compression member sections
 Rolled, compound and built-up sections are used for
columns.
 Universal columns are used in buildings where axial
load predominates
 Universal beams are often used to resist heavy moments
that occur in columns in industrial
buildings.
 Single angles, double angles, tees, channels and
structural hollow sections are the common
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Loads on compression members
 Axial loading on columns in buildings is due to loads
from roofs, floors and walls transmitted to the column
through beams and to self weight.
 Bending moment in columns can be due to the
eccentricity of the floor beam reactions from
the column axis.
 Wind loads on multi-storey buildings designed to the
simple design method are resisted by the bracings at floor
levels, and so do not cause moments.

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Loads on compression members
 In industrial buildings, loads from cranes and wind
cause moments in columns. In this case, the wind is
applied as a distributed load to the column through the
sheeting rails.
In rigid frame construction, moments are transmitted
through the joints from beams to column.

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Mode of failure of column
Column may fail due to
 Crushing
 Buckling
 Both crushing and buckling.
1. Crushing failure:
A short column, post or pedestal fails by crushing or
squashing.The squash load Py= pyA, Where A is the area
of cross-section.

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Mode of failure of column
2. Buckling failure
A long or slender column fails by buckling. Such member
has a critical load which causes elastic instability due to
which the member fails.
Crushing and buckling : This is the common type of
failure. For all intermediate slenderness ratios , the column
fails due to combined effect of crushing and buckling.

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Behavior of member in axial compression
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Buckling
When a structural member is subjected to compressive
stresses, it deflects outward (similar to bending). This is
called “buckling”. The load at which a compression
member buckles is called the “critical load” (P c r) or the
Euler Buckling Load (PE)

In this equation, π = 3.14, E is the modulus of elasticity

(N/mm2), Ι is the moment of inertia(cm4) about which the
column buckles, kl is the effective length of the
column against buckling (m), and P E (or Pc r) is the Euler
Buckling Load (in N) 24
Effective length. (cl. 4.7.3, page81 of BS 5950-1)
The effective length is defined as the distance between
points of zero moments. The effective length of the
member depends on its segment length (L) and the ‘k’
factor. The k factor ( Table 22 of BS 5950 Part-1. Pg 81)
depends on the end conditions of the member.
Effective length LE = k L
Note: Table 22 is not applicable for angles, channels and T
sections. They should be designed in accordance with
section 4.7.10 of BS 5950-1, pg 94 and Table 25 page 96
of BS 5950-1.

25
Effective length. (cl. 4.7.3, page81 of BS 5950-1)
The effective length is defined as the distance between
points of zero moments. The effective length of the
member depends on its segment length (L) and the ‘k’
factor. The k factor ( Table 22 of BS 5950 Part-1. Pg 81)
depends on the end conditions of the member.
Effective length LE = k L
Note: Table 22 is not applicable for angles, channels and T
sections. They should be designed in accordance with
section 4.7.10 of BS 5950-1, pg 94 and Table 25 page 96
of BS 5950-1.

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Effective length. (cl. 4.7.3, page81 of BS 5950-1)

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Effective length of compression member for
various end conditions

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Buckling will occur in major axis and minor axis.
Minor axis buckling will be the critical one as it is weak
axis.
But sometimes we have check for both minor and major
axis buckling if there is some support in between the
columns as shown in figure below. The reason is effective
length of the compression member will be different which
is explained below.

29
Major axis (strong axis)buckling Minor axis (weak axis) bucklinG

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In the above figure, Let the length of the compression
member is L. Ends are pinned. There is an intermediate
connection in web.
For major axis buckling , The effective length of
compression member in major axis= KL =1xL=L
For minor axis buckling , The effective length of
compression member in minor axis = 0.5 KL = 0.5
L (as K=1)

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Compressive resistance (Pc) (cl. 4.7.4 pg 81-82, BS
5950-1)
Pc = Ag pc (For class 1 plastic, class 2 compact, class 3
semi compcat sections)-obtained from Table 24, pg 84-91
BS 5950-1.

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33
Example : Check the ability of a 800 mm square box-
column fabricated using 25 mm thick S355grade steel
plate to withstand an axial compressive load of 22000
KN over an unsupported length of 10 m .Assuming that
the end are held in position,but not restrained in
direction.

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