Yield Line Analysis of a Web Connection in Direct Tension

RICHARD H. KAPP

YIELD LINE ANALYSIS is a tool for the design of plates,

whether they be concrete slabs/ steel grids,^ box columns^
or the webs of rolled members.^ This paper is prepared
to help fill a void in connection design involving the ^ ^
transfer of tension to the web of a beam or column. T h e
connections discussed here a r e : a welded plate (Fig. l a ) ,
a bolted T e e connection (Fig. l b ) , and a bolted T e e
connection with reinforcing (Fig. I c ) . O n e conservative
analysis is made by Blodgett^ for the Fig. l a connection.
These three connection types are used for light brac-
Fig. 1. Connection types
ing. T h e usual design procedure is to size the connection
and assume the tension transfer. This paper will show,
however, that the member w e b m a y not be adequate to ANALYSIS
carry the tension. Checking the web should be a standard T h e model for analysis is shown in Fig. 2 with the yield
design procedure. If a web is inadequate or cannot be line geometry and connection dimensions shown. T h e
economically reinforced, some other connection type analysis assumes the distance A is small, so that tan <j) =
should be selected by the designer. </), and that the mechanism shown has enough plate
above and below so that it can actually form. O n this
NOMENCLATURE
basis, the angles <^i, <^2 and (/)3 are as follows:
EW external work
.y — yield stress of steel
</)2 = A / ^
IW = internal work
(/)3 = (/>4 + </>5 = A V ^ 2 _(_ ^2/,^
L — distance between inner yield lines, along the
member
Mp = plastic moment
Pa = total allowable tension
Pu = total ultimate tension
b = distance from inner yield line to outer yield line,
across the member
c = distance between inner yield lines, across the
member
d = depth of member
e = distance from inner yield line to outer yield
line, along the member
t = thickness of plate in welded plate connection
tf = thickness of member flange
ty, = thickness of web or doubler plate
A = virtual deflection
</), </)i, 02, <^35 4>A, (t>5 = virtual rotation
\l/ = FytJ

Richard H. Kapp is Structural Design Engineer^ Greenville Steel Com-

pany^ Div. of Carolina Steel Corp.^ Greenville, South Carolina.
Fig. 2. Model geometry

38

ENGINEERING J0 U R N A L / A M E R I 0AN I N S T I T U T E OF S T E E L CONSTRUCTION

 For a plate element fixed at the flanges, the internal DESIGN
work is: Equations (5) and (8) are to be used to analyze a given
IW = M^[(t>i{2)(2b + c) + ct>i{2c) + 02(2L) + connection to decide if it is adequate for a given load.
<t>2(2)(L + 2e) + U4){Ve' + b')] T o design a connection (i.e., to calculate the length L, as
= (4MpAA^)(2^2 _|_ 2^2 + cb + Le) \l/, b, c, and Pu are now known) requires that Eqs. (3)
and (4) and Eqs. (6) and (7) must be solved for L.
M, = F,tJ/4 (1)
For a plate element fixed at the flanges, the length L
^ = FytJ (2)
T h e external work is £"14^ = P^A. Equating external work
L = Pub/xl/ - 4bVl + c/2b (9)
and internal work, dividing through by A, and substi-
tuting Eqs. (1) and (2) results in Eq. (3): For a plate element supported at the flanges, the length L
p^ = {yp/eb){2b'' + 2^2 ^cb + Le] (3) is:

For any given problem, \p, b, c, and L are known and Pu L == 2Pub/iP - 4bV2 + c/b (10)
depends directly on e. T h e value of Pu is minimized by In the design of the connection, e must also be calcu-
taking the first derivative of Eq. (3) with respect to e lated from Eqs. (4) and (7) to determine the length of
and solving for e. the member affected by the tension transfer or to de-
df/de = xp(2e^ - 2^2 _ cb)/e^ = 0 termine the total length of reinforcing plate (L + 2e).

e = bVl + (c/2b) (4) APPLICATIONS

Substituting Eq. (4) into Eq. (3) and solving for Pu Depending on the design assumptions, the engineer
yields the lowest tension force which produces the can use Eqs. (5) and (8) in a variety of ways. If the engi-
mechanism for the connection. neer is checking the web of a beam or column, he can
P, = xpL/b + 4 ^ V l + ic/2b) (5) assume that the flanges give complete fixity or no fixity
(or he can derive the equations for intermediate re-
For a plate element supported, but not fixed, at the
straint). T h e engineer should also determine the dimen-
flanges, the internal work is reduced because there is no
sion to use for (2b + c). He can use the T distance of
moment capacity along lines 1-4 and 2-3 in Fig. 2.
the member, the distance (d — 2tf), or some intermediate
IW = MAM2){2b +c) + 4,i{2c) + 4,i{2L) + distance. For a welded plate connection, the distance L
would be the length of the plate and distance c could be
assumed to be the thickness of the plate plus ]yie-in.
Substituting for the angles, equating external work and
on each side for the weld (c = t -\- }y^, see Fig. 3), or c
internal work, dividing through by A, and substituting
could be assumed equal to zero. For a bolted connection,
Eqs. (1) and (2) results in Eq. (6):
L and c should be used as the sides of the rectangle
Pu = (Heb)l2b' + e' + cb + Le/2] (6) through the bolt centers (see Fig. 4). For a doubler
Minimizing and solving for e yields Eq. (7):
e = bV2 + (c/b) (7)
Substituting Eq. (7) into Eq. (6) and solving for P^:

Pu = xl^L/2b + 2 ^ V 2 + (c/b) (8)

¥^
^ ^
a
n
^^'^
^

Fig. 3. Welded plate connection Fig. 4. Bolted Tee connection

39
SECOND QUARTER/1974
plate, the author uses Eq. (8); however, with appropri- EXAMPLES
ately thick flanges and a full penetration weld to those Example 1—%-in. welded plate connection (Fig. 5).
flanges, Eq. (5) could be used. T h e web and doubler Column section: W 8 X 3 1 ; A36 steel
plate do not work together. T h e amount of load each can
support must be calculated separately. L = 12 in.
Equations (5) and (8) give the ultimate load for the 2b + c = T = 6.125 in.
chosen mechanism. T o check the allowable load, the ap- c = 0.375 + 0.125 = 0.5 in.
propriate safety factor must be applied. AISG allows b = (6.125 - 0.5)/2 = 2.8125 in.
a stress of 0.75Fy for rectangular sections bent about the t^ = 0.288 in.; ^ = 36 X (0.288)^ = 2.986 kips
weak axis.^ This results in a safety factor of 1.33. Engi- Use Eq. (5).
neering judgment may dictate a higher factor of safety. P^ = 25.20 kips
Pa = 0.75P^, = 18.90 kips

Example 2—^Bolted tee connection (Fig. 6).

Column section: W 8 X 3 1 ; A36 steel

L = 9 in.
2b + c =^ T = 6.125 in.
c — 3.5 in.
b = (6.125 - 3.5)/2 = 1.3125 in.
ii t^ = 0.288 in.; lA = 36 X (0.288)^ = 2.986 kips

Use Eq. (5)

Pu = 38.72 kips
Pa = O.ISP^ = 29.04 kips
k^^

Fig. 5. Example 7
Example 3—Same as example 2, except add 3^^-in.
doubler plate (Fig. 7).

For doubler plate, i// = 36 X (0.5)2 ^ 9 QQ kips

Use Eq. (8).

Pu = 69.74 kips
Pa = OJSPu = 52.31 kips
Add Pa to the value of Pa in Example 2.
Pa = 52.31 + 29.04 = 81.35 kips

ijiHi

ork]'^^^ [>l

kj^^^^Vl'^kl

Fig. 6. Example 2 Fig. 7. Example 3

40

ENGINEERING J 0URNAL/AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF STEEL CONSTRUCTION

Example 4—Design a %-m. welded plate connection ^8

for a W14X68 to carry 35 kips tension (Fig. 8).

2b + c = T = 11.25 in.
c = 0.5 in.
b = (11.25 - 0.5)/2 = 5.375 in.
t^ = 0.418 m.;xl/ = 36 X (0.418)2 = 6.29 kips
Pu = 1.33 X 35 = 46.55 kips ii
J

Use Eq. (9).

L = 17.78 in.; use 18 in.
b J4L b
K"^ w=^
Determine e, using Eq. (4).
e = 5.50 in.
Affected length = 18 + 2(5.50) = 29.0 in. Fig. 8. Example 4
CONCLUSION
A yield line design procedure has been offered to allow
REFERENCES
the engineer to determine the amount of tension a beam
or column web connection can support. T h e selection of Winter, Urquhart, O'Rourke, Nilson Design of Concrete Struc-
tures McGraw-Hill Book Company, New York, 7964.
mechanism geometry, design assumptions, and safety Cannon, J. P. Yield-Line Analysis and Design of Grids
factor is left to engineering j u d g m e n t and the particulars AISC Engineering Journal, October, 1969.
of the design problem. T h e design procedure (through Blodgett, 0. W. Design of Welded Structures The James F.
the examples given) does show that the web may not be Lincoln Arc Welding Foundation, Cleveland, 1966.
able to develop the full connection tension, without some Abolitz, A. L. and M. E. Warner Bending Under Seated
Connections AISC Engineering Journal, January, 1965.
reinforcing. Thus the engineer, as a standard design Specification for the Design, Fabrication and Erection of Structural
procedure, should always check the web of a member Steel for Buildings American Institute of Steel Construction,
subjected to a tension force. New York, 1969.

41
SECOND QUARTER/1974