UNDERSTANDING ASCE-10 COMPRESSION AND TENSION DESIGN IN PLS-TOWER

Author: Alberto Len Zuluaga Gmez, BS in Civil Engineering, Universidad Nacional de Colombia,
Colombia and MS in Structural Engineering and Civil Construction, Universidade de Braslia, Brazil.
Company: Interconexin Elctrica S.A. - ISA. (www.isa.com.co)
E-Mail: alzuluaga@isa.com.co; alzgnike@hotmail.com


ABSTRACT

This paper has the objective of showing through two simple flow charts, how PLS-Tower develops
the compression and tension design according to the ASCE-10 requirements. It is intended to
present information about the design results that the program performs internally, and do so in a
simpler, more understandable form.

The information contained in this article only applies when dealing with ASCE-10 requirements;
however, it could be easily extrapolated to other design codes that the PLS-Tower supports, like
AS-3995, Canada S37, PN-90/B-03200, etc.


NOTATION

Variable Short definition
Width of single angle short leg [in]

Member effective area [in]

Gross cross-sectional area [in]

Net cross-sectional area [in]

Minimum net area in tension from the hole to the toe of the angle perpendicular to the
line of force [in]

Minimum net area in shear [in]

Width of single angle long leg [in]

Connection bearing capacity

Eccentricity code
Restrain code

Column slenderness ratio

Compression capacity based on member slenderness L/r column slenderness ratio

Angle legs connection code (Both, Long only or Short only)

Nominal diameter of bolt [in]

Diameter of attachment hole [in]

End distance of bolt hole [in]
Modulus of elasticity of steel [ksi]
Short edge distance of bolt hole [in]

Design axial compressive stress [ksi]

Critical stress for local buckling [ksi]

Design axial tensile stress [ksi]

Specified minimum tensile strength [ksi]

Specified minimum yield stress [ksi]

Variable Short definition
Effective length factor
Unbraced length of member [in]

Unbraced member length about its local x-axis

Unbraced member length about it local y-axis

Unbraced member length about it local z-axis

Number of angles in cross section

Number of bolts in end connection

Number of bearing areas per bolt

Number of holes to be deducted

Number of shear planes per bolt

Tension capacity based on net section

Member radii of gyration [in]

Connection block shear capacity

Connection rupture capacity

Connection end, edge or spacing distance capacity

Alternate unbraced length ratio for crossing diagonals
Member unbraced length ratio for its local x-axis
Member unbraced length ratio for its local y-axis
Member unbraced length ratio for its local z-axis

Member radii of gyration for its local x-axis

Member radii of gyration for its local y-axis

Member radii of gyration for its local z-axis

Bolt spacing [in]

Connection shear capacity

Thickness of element [in]

Design shear capacity of one bolt [ksi]

Flat-width of element [in]
Width to thickness ratio
Unit factor (1.0 for

in ksi)
Absolute value of the tension force in the supporting member divided by the force in
the compressed member


DISCLAIMER

The author will be not responsible for any information contained in this article. The conclusions
and recommendations should be used by an experienced engineer, and Licensee assumes all
responsibility for the design assumptions and results.





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Inelastic buckling:

Elastic buckling:

Members with a concentric
load at both ends (C1=1):

Members with a concentric load at one end
and normal framing at the other end (C1=2):

Members with normal framing
eccentricities at both ends (C1=3):

Members unrestrained against
rotation at both ends (C2=4):

Members partially restrained against
rotation at one end (C2=5):

Members partially restrained against
rotation at both ends (C2=6):

Short members:

Long members:

Leg members Other members

Crossing diagonals Other members



(number of angles in cross section) if
= 1 or 2, or
/ 2 if = 4
Compression capacity based on
member slenderness L/r, CCAP
Connection shear capacity, SCAP Connection bearing capacity, BCAP
CAPACITY IN
COMPRESSION

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Members connected by
both legs, (CL=Both):

Members connected by
long leg, (CL=Long Only):

Members connected by short leg,
(CL=Short Only):

(number of angles in cross section) if

= 1 or 2, or

/ 2 if

= 4

Tension capacity based on net section,

Connection shear capacity,

Connection bearing capacity,

Connection rupture capacity,

CAPACITY IN TENSION

REFERENCES

(1) TOWER Version 12.3 Manual. Power Line System, Inc . 2012.
(2) ASCE 10 (1997). Design of Latticed Steel Transmission Structures. American Society of Civil
Engineers. Reston, Va.