Tension Members

Concentrically loaded tension members

Introduction
• Concentrically loaded uniform tension members are perhaps the simplest
structural elements as they nominally in a state of uniform axial stress.
• Because of this their load-deformation behavior very closely parallels to the
stress-strain behaviour of structural steel obtained from the results of tensile
tests.
• As the tensile force increases on a member it will straighten out as
the load is increased
• For a member that is purely in tension, we do not need to worry
about the section classification since it will not buckle locally
• A tension member fails when it reached the ultimate stress and the
failure load is independent of the length of the member.
• Tension members are generally designed using rolled section, bars or
flats
Main sections used for tension members
 Tensile resistance
• EC3 1-1 Clause 6.2.3
𝑁𝑡,𝐸𝑑
≤ 1.0 Equation 6.5
𝑁𝑡,𝑅𝑑
Where
Nt,Ed = design tensile force
Nt,Rd = design tensile resistance

The tensile resistance, Nt,Rd is limited by the lesser of:

- Design plastic resistance, Npl,Rd
- Design ultimate resistance Nu,Rd
Design plastic resistance, Npl,Rd
• Npl,Rd is the plastic design resistance and is concerned with the
yielding of the gross cross-section
• Equation 6.6 gives the expression used to calculate Npl,Rd
𝐴𝑓𝑦
𝑁𝑝𝑙,𝑅𝑑 =
𝛾𝑀0
Where
A = cross sectional area of tension member
fy = yield stress
M0 = resistance of cross sections, 1.0
Design ultimate resistance Nu,Rd

• Nu,Rd is the design ultimate resistance of the net cross-section and is

concerns with the ultimate fracture of the net cross-section, which
will normally occur at fasteners holes.

0.9𝐴𝑛𝑒𝑡 𝑓𝑢
𝑁𝑢,𝑅𝑑 =
𝛾𝑀2
Where
Anet = net area of cross-section
fu = ultimate tensile strength
M2 = resistance of cross-sections in tension to fracture, 1.25
 Anet
Anet for non staggered fasteners
𝐴𝑛𝑒𝑡 = 𝐴 − σ 𝑑𝑜 t

do = diameter of the hole

Anet for staggered fasteners, the total area to be deducted for fasteners should be
the greater :
a. The deduction for non-staggered holes
𝑠2
b. 𝑡 𝑛𝑑𝑜 − σ
4𝑝
Where
t = thickness of the plate
p = spacing of the centres of the same two holes measured
perpendicular to the member axis
Angles connected by a single row of bolts
Refer to EN3 1-8 (Cl.3.10.3(2))

For 1 bolt
Example 1– checking a bolted universal beam
A 610×229 UB 125 tension member of S355 steel is connected through
both flanges by 20 mm bolts (in 22 mm diameter bolt holes) in four
lines, two in each flange as shown in Figure below. Check the member
for a design tension force of Nt,Ed = 4000 kN.
Solution:
tf = 19.6mm
fy = 355 N/mm2
fu = 490 N/mm2
A = 15900 mm2

𝐴𝑓𝑦 15900𝑥355
𝑁𝑝𝑙,𝑅𝑑 = = = 5444𝑘𝑁
𝛾𝑀0 1.0
Anet = 15900 – (4 x 22 19.6) = 14175 mm2

0.9𝐴𝑛𝑒𝑡 𝑓𝑢 0.9𝑥14175𝑥490
𝑁𝑢,𝑅𝑑 = = = 5001 kN
𝛾𝑀2 1.25

𝑁𝑡,𝑅𝑑 = 5001𝑘𝑁 (the lesser of Npl,Rd and Nu,Rd)> 4000kN

The member is satisfactory

 Example 2
Both flanges of a universal column section member have 22mm
diameter holes arranged as shown in figure below. If the gross area of
the section is 201 x 102 mm2 and the flange thickness is 25mm,
determine the net area Anet of the member which is effective in tension.
Solution:
Minimum stagger, 𝑠𝑚 = 4𝑝𝑑𝑜 = 4𝑥60𝑥22
= 72.7mm > 30mm
Since s<sm, therefore the failure path through each
flange is staggered. And by inspection it includes four
holes and two staggers. The net area can be calculated
as
𝑠2𝑡
𝐴𝑛𝑒𝑡 = 𝐴 − ෍ 𝑛𝑡𝑑𝑜 + ෍
4𝑝
= 201𝑥102 − 2𝑥4𝑥 22𝑥25 + ሾ2𝑥2𝑥 302 𝑥25 /
Determine the tension resistance of the tension member in this
example assuming it use S355 steel
tf = 25mm, fy = 355 N/mm2, fu = 490 N/mm2
𝐴𝑓𝑦 201𝑥102 𝑥355
𝑁𝑝𝑙,𝑅𝑑 = = = 7135 𝑘𝑁
𝛾𝑀0 1.0

0.9𝐴𝑛𝑒𝑡 𝑓𝑢 0.9𝑥161𝑥102 𝑥490

𝑁𝑢,𝑅𝑑 = = = 5680 𝑘𝑁
𝛾𝑀2 1.25

Nt,Rd = 5680 kN (the lesser of Npl,Rd and Nu,Rd)

Example 3
A tension member consists of a 150 x 75 x 10 single unequal angle
whose ends are connected to gusset plates through the larger leg by a
single row of four 22mm bolts at 60mm centres. Check the member for
a design tension force of Nt,Ed = 340kN, if the angles is of S355 steel
and has area of 21.7cm2.

Solution:
t = 10mm, fy = 355 N/mm2 and fu = 490 N/mm2

Gross area of cross section, A = 2170 mm2

 𝐴𝑓𝑦 2170𝑥355
𝑁𝑝𝑙,𝑅𝑑 = = = 770.4 𝑘𝑁
𝛾𝑀0 1.0

Anet = 2170 – (24x10) = 1930mm2

3 = 0.5 (since the pitch p1 = 60mm = 2.5do)

𝛽3 𝐴𝑛𝑒𝑡 𝑓𝑢 0.5𝑥1930𝑥490
𝑁𝑢,𝑅𝑑 = = = 429.9 𝑘𝑁
𝛾𝑀2 1.1

Nt,Rd = 429.9 kN (the lesser of Npl,Rd and Nu,Rd) > Nt,Ed= 340kN