Design of Tension Members

Structural Elements Subjected to Axial Tensile Forces

Trusses

Bracing for Buildings and Bridges

Cables in Suspension and Cable-Stayed Bridges

 LAST TIME

• Design of Tension Members

• Tables for the Design
• Threaded Rods and Cables
 Design of Tension Members LAST TIME

• Objective
– Find a member with adequate gross and net areas
– Find a member that satisfies L/r<300
• Does not apply to cables and rods

Required Strength Available Strength

(Nominal Resistance)
1.4 D 0.9 Fy Ag
LRFD max 1.2 D  1.6 L LRFD min
0.75Fu Ae
D
DL 0.6 Fy Ag
ASD max ASD min
etc 0.5Fu Ae
 Design of Tension Members LAST TIME

Determine required Area LRFD

Pu
To prevent yielding Pu  0.90 Fy Ag  Ag 
0.9 Fy
Pu
To avoid fracture Pu  0.75Fu Ae  Ae 
0.75Fy

Yielding controls if 0.90 Fy Ag  0.75Fu Ae

Ae Fy
 1 .2
Ag Fu
 Design of Tension Members LAST TIME

• Determine required Area ASD

Pa Pa
To prevent yielding  Fy Ag  Ag 
0 .6 0.6 Fy
Pa Pa
To avoid fracture  Fu Ae  Ae 
0.5 0.5Fu
Fy Ag Fu Ae
Yielding controls if 
1.67 2
Ae Fy
 1.2
Ag Fu
 LRFD - Example LAST TIME

Tension member with a length 5’-9” resists D=18 kips and L=52 kips
Select a member with rectangular cross section, A36 steel and one line 7/8” bolts

Step 1: Required Strength

1.4 D  1.418  25.2kips
Pu  max   104.8kips
1.2 D  1.6 L  1.218  1.6 52   104.8kips

Step 2: Required Areas

Pu 104.8
Ag ,req    3.235 in 2
t Fy 0.9 36
Pu 104.8
Ae,req    2.409 in 2
t Fu 0.75 58
 LRFD - Example LAST TIME

Tension member with a length 5’-9” resists D=18 kips and L=52 kips
Select a member with rectangular cross section, A36 steel and one line 7/8” bolts

Step 3: Plate Selection based on Ag

Try thickness t = 1 in

Ag ,req  3.235 in 2  wreq (1)  wreq  3.235 in

Choose PL 1 X 3-1/2
See Manual pp1-8 for availability of plate products
 LRFD - Example LAST TIME

Tension member with a length 5’-9” resists D=18 kips and L=52 kips
Select a member with rectangular cross section, A36 steel and one line 7/8” bolts

Step 4: Check Effective Area

Ae  UAn  1 Ag  Ahole  
OK
  7 1 
11x 3.5       2.5 in 2  Ae ,req  2.409
  8 8 
 LRFD - Example LAST TIME

Tension member with a length 5’-9” resists D=18 kips and L=52 kips
Select a member with rectangular cross section, A36 steel and one line 7/8” bolts

Step 4: Check Slenderness

wt 3 3.51
3
I min    0.2917 in 4
12 12
A  3.51  3.5 in 2
I min
I  Ar  r 
2
 0.2887 in 2
A
L 5.75
max 
r 0.2887
 239 in 2  300 in 2 OK
 ASD - Example LAST TIME

Tension member with a length 5’-9” resists D=18 kips and L=52 kips
Select a member with rectangular cross section, A36 steel and one line 7/8” bolts

Step 1: Required Strength

1D  18  18kips
Pa  max   70.0kips
 D  L  18   52   70kips

Step 2: Required Areas

Pa 70.0
Ag ,req    3.24 in 2
0.6 Fy 0.6 36
Pa 70.0
Ae,req    2.414 in 2
0.5Fu 0.5 58
 ASD - Example LAST TIME

Tension member with a length 5’-9” resists D=18 kips and L=52 kips
Select a member with rectangular cross section, A36 steel and one line 7/8” bolts

Step 3: Plate Selection based on Ag - Same as LRFD

Try thickness t = 1 in

Ag ,req  3.241 in 2  wreq (1)  wreq  3.241 in

Choose PL 1 X 3-1/2
See Manual pp1-8 for availability of plate products
 ASD - Example LAST TIME

Tension member with a length 5’-9” resists D=18 kips and L=52 kips
Select a member with rectangular cross section, A36 steel and one line 7/8” bolts

Step 4: Check Effective Area

Ae  UAn  1 Ag  Ahole  
OK
  7 1 
11x 3.5       2.5 in 2  Ae ,req  2.414
  8 8 
 LRFD - Example LAST TIME

Tension member with a length 5’-9” resists D=18 kips and L=52 kips
Select a member with rectangular cross section, A36 steel and one line 7/8” bolts

Step 4: Check Slenderness

wt 3 3.51
3
I min    0.2917 in 4
12 12
A  3.51  3.5 in 2
I min
I  Ar  r 
2
 0.2887 in 2
A
L 5.75
max 
r 0.2887
 239 in 2  300 in 2 OK
 Angles as Tension Members LAST TIME

• Must have enough room for bolts

(if bolted connection)
• Space is a problem if 2 lines of bolts in a leg
• Usual fabrication practice – standard hole
location
Manual pp 1-46

Leg 8 7 6 5 4 31/2 3 2-1/2 2 1-3/4 1-1/2 1-3/8 1-1/4 1

g 4-1/2 4 3-1/2 3 2-1/2 2 1-3/4 1-3/8 1-1/8 1 7/8 7/8 3/4 5/8

g1 3 2-1/2 2-1/4 2

g2 3 3 2-1/2 1-3/4
 Example LAST TIME

• Select and unequal-leg angle tension member 15 feet long to resist a

service dead load of 35 kips and a service live load of 70 kips. Use
A36
 Angle - Example LAST TIME

Step 1: Required Strength

1.4 D   35  49kips
Pu  max   154kips
1.2 D  1.6 L  1.2 35  1.6 70  154kips
Step 2: Required Areas
Pu 154
Ag ,req    4.75 in 2
0.9 Fy 0.9 36
Pu 154
Ae,req    3.54 in 2
0.75Fu 0.5 58
L 15(12)
rreq    0.6 in
300u 300
 Angle - Example LAST TIME

Step 3: Angle Selection based on Ag

Two lines of bolts, therefore min. length of one leg = 5 in
see table
Pu 154
Ag ,req    4.75 in 2
0.9 Fy 0.9 36

Choose L6x4x1/2 A=4.75, rmin=0.864

See Manual pp1-42
 Angle - Example LAST TIME

Step 4: Check Effective Area

 3 1  1 
An  Ag  Ahole  4.75  2     3.875in 2
 4 8  2 
Length of connection not known
4 – bolts in direction of load U=0.8

Ae  UAn  0.8 3.875  3.10in 2  Ae,req  3.54 NG

 Angle - Example LAST TIME

Step 3: Angle Selection based on Ag – TRY NEXT LARGER

Two lines of bolts, therefore min. length of one leg = 5 in
see table
Pu 154
Ag ,req    4.75 in 2
0.9 Fy 0.9 36

Choose L5 x 3-1/2 x 5/8 A=4.92, rmin=0.746

See Manual pp1-42
 Angle - Example LAST TIME

Step 4: Check Effective Area

 3 1  5 
An  Ag  Ahole  4.92  2     3.826in 2
 4 8  8 
Length of connection not known
4 – bolts in direction of load U=0.8

Ae  UAn  0.8 3.826  3.06in 2  Ae,req  3.54 NG

 Angle - Example LAST TIME

Step 3: Angle Selection based on Ag – TRY NEXT LARGER

Two lines of bolts, therefore min. length of one leg = 5 in
see table
Pu 154
Ag ,req    4.75 in 2
0.9 Fy 0.9 36

Choose L8 x 4 x 1/2 A=5.75, rmin=0.863

See Manual pp1-42
 Angle - Example LAST TIME

Step 4: Check Effective Area

 3 1  5 
An  Ag  Ahole  5.75  2     4.875in 2
 4 8  8 
Length of connection not known
4 – bolts in direction of load U=0.8

Ae  UAn  0.8 4.875  3.9in 2  Ae,req  3.54 OK

TABLES FOR DESIGN OF TENSION
MEMBERS
 Example

• Select and unequal-leg angle tension member 15 feet long to resist a

service dead load of 35 kips and a service live load of 70 kips. Use
A36
 Example – Using Tables

Step 1: Required Strength

1.4 D   35  49kips
Pu  max   154kips
1.2 D  1.6 L  1.2 35  1.6 70  154kips
Step 2: Choose L based on Pu

Choose L6x4x1/2
A=4.75, rmin=0.980
yielding : t Pn  154 kips
See Manual pp 5-15
rupture : t Pn  155 kips
 Angle - Example

Step 3: Check Effective Area

 3 1  5 
An  Ag  Ahole  4.75  2     3.875in 2
 4 8  8 
Length of connection not known
4 – bolts in direction of load U=0.8

Ae  UAn  0.8 3.875  3.10in 2

t Pn  t Fu Ae  0.75(58)(3.10)  135kips  Pu  154kips NG

 Angle - Example

Shape did not work because table values are for Ae/Ag=0.75

In this problem Ae/Ag=3.1/4.75 = 0.6526

Enter table with adjusted Pu as

0.75
 Pu
actual ratio
 Example – Using Tables

Step 4: Choose L based on ADJUSTED Pu

0.75
Pu  154  177kips
0.6525

Choose L8x4x1/2
A=5.75, rmin=0.863
yielding : t Pn  186 kips
See Manual pp 5-14
rupture : t Pn  187 kips
 Angle - Example

Step 5: Check Effective Area

 3 1  1 
An  Ag  Ahole  5.75  2     4.875in 2
 4 8  2 
Length of connection not known
4 – bolts in direction of load U=0.8

Ae  UAn  0.8 4.875  3.90in 2

t Pn  t Fu Ae  0.75(58)( 3.90)  170kips  Pu  154kips OK

 Tension Members in Roof Trusses

• Main supporting elements of roof systems where long spans are

required

• Used when the cost and weight of a beam would be prohibitive

• Often used in industrial or mill buildings

 Tension Members in Roof Trussed

Pin
Hinge

Supporting walls: reinforced concrete, concrete block, brick

or combination
Tension Members in Roof Trussed
Tension Members in Roof Trusses

Sag Rods are designed to provide lateral support

to purlins and carry the component of the load
parallel to the roof

Located at mid-point, third points, or more

frequently
 Tension Members in Roof Trusses

Bottom Chord in tension

Top Chord in compression
Web members: some in compression some in tension

Wind loads may alternate force in some members

 Tension Members in Roof Trusses

Chord Members are designed as continuous

Joint rigidity introduces small moments that are usually

ignored

Bending caused by loads applied directly on members must

be taken into account
 Tension Members in Roof Trusses

Working Lines Intersect at the

Working Point in each joint

• Bolted Truss: Working Lines are the bolt lines

• Welded Truss: Working Lines are the centroidal axes of

the welds

• For analysis: Member length from working point to

working point
Tension Members in Roof Trusses

Bolted trusses

Double Angles for chords

Double Angles for web

members

Single Gusset plate

 Tension Members in Roof Trusses

Welded trusses

Structural Tee shapes are used in chords

Angles are used in web members

Angles are usually welded to the stem of the Tee

 Tension Members in Roof Trusses

Welded trusses

Structural Tee shapes are used in chords

Angles are used in web members

Angles are usually welded to the stem of the Tee

 Example

Select a structural Tee for the bottom chord of the Warren roof truss. Trusses are
welded and spaced at 20 feet. Assume bottom chord connection is made with 9-
inch long longitudinal welds at the flange. Use A992 steel and the following load
data (wind is not considered)
Purlins M8x6.5
Snow 20 psf horizontal projection
Metal Deck 2 psf
Roofing 4 psf
Insulation 3 psf
 Step 1 – Load Analysis

DEAD (excluding purlins)

Deck 2 psf
Roof 4 psf
Insulation 3 psf
20ft
Total 9 psf
Total Dead Load = 9(20) = 180 lb/ft

180(2.5)=450 lb 180(5)=900 lb
……
 Step 1 – Load Analysis

PURLINS M8x6.5

Purlin Load = 6.5(20) = 130 lb

20ft

130 lb 130 lb
……
 Step 1 – Load Analysis

SNOW
Snow Load = 20(20) = 400 lb/ft

20ft

400(2.5)=1000 lb 400(5)=2000 lb
……
 Step 1 – Load Analysis

Dead Load of Truss

Assume 10% of all other loads

End Joint 0.1(9(20)(20)+130+1000)=158 lb

Interior Joint 0.1(900+130+2000)=303 lb

158 lb 303 lb
……
 Step 1 – Load Analysis

450+130+158 = 738 lb 900+130+303 = 1333 lb

……
D

1000 lb 2000 lb

S
 Step 2 – Required Force

Pu  1.2 D  1.6S

1.2(0.74) + 1.6(1) = 1.2(1.33)+1.6(2)=

2.48 kips 4.8 kips
……
Step 2 – Required Force

Method of Sections

M E  0   FIJ  48.04 kips

 Step 3 – Required Areas

Pu FIJ 48.04
Ag ,req     1.07 in 2
0.9 Fy 0.9 Fy 0.9 50

Pu FIJ 48.04
Ae,req     0.985 in 2
0.75Fu 0.75Fu 0.75 65
 Step 4: T Selection based on Ag

Choose MT5x3.75 A=1.10 in2

See Manual pp1-68
 Step 5 Check Effective Area

x  1.51 
U  1  1    0.8322
L  9 

Ae  UAg   0.8322 1  0.915 in 2  Ae,req  0.985 in 2 NG

 Step 6 TRY NEXT LARGER

Choose MT6X5 A=1.46 in2

See Manual pp1-68
 Step 7 Check Effective Area

x  1.51 
U  1  1    0.7933
L  9 

Ae  UAg   0.79331.46  1.16 in 2  Ae,req  0.985 in 2 OK

 Step 8 – Check Slenderness

Assume bracing points at panel points

L 5(12)
  101  300 OK
r 0.594