Analysis and Design of

Axial Tension
Introduction
Tension members are structural elements that are subjected
to axial tensile forces. They are used in various types of
structures and included truss members, bracing for buildings
and bridges, cables in suspended roof system, and cables
in suspension and cable-stayed bridges. Any cross-sectional
configuration may be used, because for any given
material, the only determinant of the strength of a tension
members is the cross-sectional area.
Introduction
The direct stress formula is the basis for tension member analysis and design,.
It may be written for stress,
𝑃
𝑓𝑡 = or for tensile capacity 𝑃𝑡 = 𝐹𝑡 𝐴
𝐴
Where:
Ft = computed tensile stress
P = applied axial load
Pt = axial tensile load capacity or maximum allowable axial tensile
load
Ft = allowable axial tensile stress
A = cross-sectional area of axially loaded tension member (either
gross area Ag, net area An, or effective net area Ae)
Nominal Strength
The strength of a tension member may be described in
term of the “limit states” that govern. The controlling
strength limit state for a tension member will be one of the
following: (a) yielding of the cross-section of the member
away from the connection, (b) fracture of the effective net
area (i.e., through the holes) at the connection, or (c) block
shear fracture through the bolt at the connection.
Tensile Strength
(NSCP 2015 Section 504.2/AISC Section D2)
The design tensile strength, 𝜙tPn, and the allowable tensile
strength, Pn/t, of tension members, shall be the lower value
obtained according to the limit states of tensile yielding in
the gross section and tensile rupture in the net section.

𝑃𝑢 = 𝜙𝑡 𝑃𝑛 (LRFD)

𝑃𝑎 = 𝑃𝑛 ΤΩ𝑡 (ASD)
Tensile Strength
(NSCP 2015 Section 504.2/AISC Section D2)
1. For tensile yielding in the gross section:
𝑃𝑛 = 𝐹𝑦 𝐴𝑔 (504.2-1)

𝜙𝑡 = 0.90 𝐿𝑅𝐹𝐷 Ω𝑡 = 1.67 𝐴𝑆𝐷

2. For tensile rupture in the net section:

𝑃𝑛 = 𝐹𝑢 𝐴𝑒 (504.2-2)

𝜙𝑡 = 0.75 𝐿𝑅𝐹𝐷 Ω𝑡 = 2.00 𝐴𝑆𝐷

Tensile Strength
(NSCP 2015 Section 504.2/AISC Section D2)

Where:

𝐴𝑒 = effective net area, mm2

𝐴𝑔 = gross area of member, mm2
𝐹𝑦 = specified minimum yield stress of the type of steel
being used, Mpa.
𝐹𝑢 = specified minimum tensile strength of the type of
steel being used, Mpa.
Block Shear Strength
(NSCP 2015 Section 510.4.3/AISC Section J4.3)
When thin plates are attached by bolts, a tearing limit
state, known as block shear, may control the strength of a
tension member, or the tension at he end connection of a
beam. The available strength for the limit state of block
shear rupture along a shear failure path or paths and a
perpendicular tension failure shall be take as;

𝑅𝑛 = 0.60𝐹𝑢 𝐴𝑛𝑣 + 𝑈𝑏𝑠 𝐹𝑢 𝐴𝑛𝑡 ≤ 0.60𝐹𝑦 𝐴𝑔𝑣 + 𝑈𝑏𝑠 𝐹𝑢 𝐴𝑛𝑡

𝜙𝑡 = 0.75 (𝐿𝑅𝐹𝐷) Ω𝑡 = 2.00 (AS𝐷)

Block Shear Strength
(NSCP 2015 Section 510.4.3/AISC Section J4.3)
Where:
Agv = gross area subject to shear, (mm2)
Anv = net area subject to shear, (mm2)
Ant = net area subject to tension, (mm2)
Fy = specified minimum yield stress (MPa)
Fu = specified minimum tensile strength (MPa)
Ubs = 1.0 (where the tension stress is uniform)
0.5 (where the tension stress is non-uniform)

The purpose of the reduction factor Ubs is to account for the fact that
stress distribution may not by uniform on the tensile plane for some
connections.
Block Shear Strength
(NSCP 2015 Section 510.4.3/AISC Section J4.3)
- Ubs will be taken equal to1.0 for uniform tensile distribution. The
tensile stress is generally considered to be uniform angles,
gusset or connection plates, and for beams with one line or
bolts.
- Ubs will be taken equal to 0.5 non uniform tensile stress. Such
case occurs in coped beams with two line of bolts. The row of
bolts nearer the end of the beam picks up a largest proportion
of the shear load.

A uniform and non uniform cases are illustrated in the AICS

Commentary J4.3 to the Specification.
Block Shear in end connections
Cases for which Ubs = 1.0 Cases for which Ubs = 0.5
(AISC Commentary J4.3 (AISC Commentary J4.3
Net Area
Whenever a tension member is to be fastened by means of bolts,
holes must be provided at the connection. As a result, the member
cross-sectional area at the connection is reduced and the strength of
the member may be reduced depending on the size and location of
the holes.
Several methods are used to cut holes. The most common and least
expensive is to punch standard holes 1/16 in. (1.6mm) larger that the
diameter of the rivet or bolt. In general. The plate thickness is less than
the punch diameter. During the punching operation, the metal at the
edge of the hole is damaged. This is accounted for in design by
assuming that the extent of damage is limited to a radial distance of
1/32 in. (0.8mm) around the hole. Therefore, the total width to be
deducted is to be taken as the nominal dimension of the hole normal
to the direction of the applied load plus 1/16 in. (1.6mm). For fastener
in standard holes, the total deduction is equal to the fastener
diameter plus 1/8 in. (3.2mm)
Gross Net Area Determination
(NSCP 2015 Section 504.3/AISC Section B4.3)
(a)Gross Area. The gross area, Ag, of a member is the total
cross-sectional area.

(b)Net Area. The net area, An, of a member is the sum of

the products of the thickness and the net width of each
element computed as follows;

In computing net area for tension and shear, the width of a

bolt hole shal be taken as 1/16 in. (2mm) greater than the
nominal dimension of the hole provided by AISC Table J3.3.
Gross Net Area Determination
(NSCP 2015 Section 504.3/AISC Section B4.3)
𝑑ℎ = 𝑁𝑜𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑙 𝐻𝑜𝑙𝑒 𝐷𝑖𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑚𝑚 + 2𝑚𝑚
or
1
𝑑ℎ = 𝑁𝑜𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑙 𝐻𝑜𝑙𝑒 𝐷𝑖𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑖𝑛 + 𝑖𝑛.
16
Size and Use of Holes
(NSCP 2015 Tables 510.3.3/AISC Table J3.3)
The maximum sizes of holes for bolts are given in NSCP Table
510.3.3/AICS Table J3.3 except that larger holes, required
for tolerance on location of anchor in concrete foundation,
are permitted in column base details.
Size and Use of Holes
(NSCP 2015 Tables 510.3.3)
Size and Use of Holes
(NSCP 2015 Tables 510.3.3)
Staggered Holes/Fasteners
(NSCP 2015 Section 504.4/AISC Section B4.3)
If a tension member connection is made with bolts, the net
area will be maximized if the fasteners are placed in a
single line. Sometimes space limitations, such as a limit on
dimension a in figure a, necessitate using more than one
line. If so, the reduction in cross-sectional area is minimized if
the fasteners are arranged in a staggered pattern, as
shown. Sometimes staggered fasteners are required by the
geometry of a connection, such as the one shown in figure
b. In either case, any cross section passing through holes will
pass through fewer holes than if the fasteners are not
staggered.
Staggered Holes/Fasteners
(NSCP 2015 Section 504.4/AISC Section B4.3)
Staggered Holes/Fasteners
(NSCP 2015 Section 504.4/AISC Section B4.3)
For a chain of holes extending across a part in any diagonal or
zigzag line, the net width of the part shall be obtained by
deducting from the gross width the sum of the diameters or slot
dimensions as provided in this section, of all holes in the chain,
and adding, for each gage space in the chain, the quantity
𝑠 2 /4𝑔
Where;
s2 = longitudinal center to center spacing (pitch) of any
two consecutive holes, (mm)
g = transverse center to center spacing (gage) between
fastener gage lines (mm)
Effective Net Area
(NSCP 2015 Section 504.3/AISC Section D.3)
The net area as computed gives the reduced section that
resists tension but still may not correctly reflect the strength,
That is particularly when the tension member has a profile
consisting of elements not in a common plane and where
the tensile load is transmitted at the end of the member by
connection to some but not all of the elements . An angle
section having connection to one leg only is an example of
such a situation. For such cases the tensile force is not
uniformly distributed over the net area.
Effective Net Area
(NSCP 2015 Section 504.3/AISC Section D.3)
NSCP 2015 Section 504.3/AISC Section D.3 provides the effective net area
Ae be computed as;

𝐴𝑒 = 𝑈𝐴𝑛

Where:
U = shear lag factor, determine as shown in NSCP
Table 504.3.3/AISC Table D3.1
An = net area

The above equation logically applies for both fastener connections

having holes and for welded connections. For welded connections,
the net area equals the gross area Ag since there are no holes.
Effective Net Area
(NSCP 2015 Section 504.3/AISC Section D.3)
NSCP 2015 Section 504.3/AISC Section D.3 provides the effective net area
Ae be computed as;

𝐴𝑒 = 𝑈𝐴𝑛

Where:
U = shear lag factor, determine as shown in NSCP
Table 504.3.3/AISC Table D3.1
An = net area

The above equation logically applies for both fastener connections

having holes and for welded connections. For welded connections,
the net area equals the gross area Ag since there are no holes.
Effective Net Area
(NSCP 2015 Section 504.3/AISC Section D.3)
For bolted splice plates, effective net area as defined in NSCP
2015 Section 510.2,
𝐴𝑒 = 𝐴𝑛 ≤ 𝐴𝑔

When a tensile load is applied eccentrically to a wide plate, the

stress distribution across the width of the plate is non-uniform. The
mechanism by which stress get transmitted from the location of
the applied load to section distant from the load is by shear
stress acting in the plane of the table. The fact that the shear
transfer “lags” or is inefficient. Thus, the uniformity of stress in
wide plates or plate elements of rolled sections when a tensile
load is applied non-uniformly, is referred to as “shear lag”.
Effective Net Area
(NSCP 2015 Section 504.3/AISC Section D.3)
AISC Table D3.1 Case 2, indicate the following shale be used for
all tension members except plates and HSS (hollow structural
section)
𝑥ҧ
𝑈 =1−
𝑙

Where:
ഥ
𝒙 = distant from centroid of element being connected
eccentrically to plane of load transfer
l = length of connection in the direction of loading
Effective Net Area
(NSCP 2015 Section 504.3/AISC Section D.3)

Definition for “l” for (a) Bolted and (b) Welded

Effective Net Area
(NSCP 2015 Section 504.3/AISC Section D.3)

“ഥ
𝒙” for various types of connection
Design of Tension Members
The design of a tension members involves finding a member
with adequate gross and net areas. If the member has
bolted connection, the selection of a suitable cross section
requires an accounting for the area lost because of holes.
For a member with a rectangular cross sections, the
calculation are relatively straightforward. If a rolled shape is
to be used, however, the area to be deducted cannot be
predicted in advanced because the member’s thickness at
the location of the holes is not known.
Design of Tension Members
A secondary consideration in the design of tension members is
slenderness. If a structural member has a small cross section in
relation to its length, it is said to be slender. A more precise
measure is the slenderness ration, L/r. The user note in AISC
Section D1 suggest a maximum slenderness of 300.
𝐿
≤ 300
𝑟
Where;
L = member length
r = minimum radius of gyration of the cross section area.
Design of Tension Members
The central problem of all members, including the design
fro tension, is to find a cross section fro which the required
strength does not exceed the available strength.

 For tension members design by LRFD, the requirement is;

𝑃𝑢 ≤ 𝜙𝑡 𝑃𝑛 or 𝜙𝑡 𝑃𝑛 ≥ 𝑃𝑢
Design of Tension Members
For tensile yielding in the gross section,
𝑃𝑢 ≤ 0.90𝐹𝑦 𝐴𝑔
𝑃𝑢
𝐴𝑔 ≥
0.90𝐹𝑦

For tensile rupture in the net section,

𝑃𝑢 ≤ 0.75𝐹𝑢 𝐴𝑒
𝑃𝑢
𝐴𝑒 ≥
0.90𝐹𝑢
Design of Tension Members
 For tension design by ASD, the requirement is;
𝑃𝑛
𝑃𝑎 ≤
Ω𝑡
For tensile yielding in the gross section,
𝐹𝑦 𝐴𝑔
𝑃𝑎 ≤
1.67
𝑃𝑎 ≤ 0.60𝐹𝑦 𝐴𝑔
𝑃𝑎
𝐴𝑔 ≥
0.60𝐹𝑦
Design of Tension Members
For tensile yielding in the gross section,
𝐹𝑢 𝐴𝑒
𝑃𝑎 ≤
1.67
𝑃𝑎 ≤ 0.50𝐹𝑢 𝐴𝑒
𝑃𝑎
𝐴𝑒 ≥
0.50𝐹𝑢