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A Beginner's Guide to the Steel Construction Manual, 13th ed. (old)
Chapter 3 Tension Members
© 2006, 2007, 2008 T. Bartlett Quimby
Overview
Section 3.7
Slenderness
Block Shear Rupture
Last Revised: 06/16/2011
Tensile Yielding
Block shear is, in some ways, similar to tensile rupture in that the main part of the member tears away from
the connection. The difference is that there is now a combination of tension and shear on the failure path.
Tensile Rupture Like tensile rupture, there frequently is more than one failure path. Figure 3.7.1 shows three possible block
Failure Path Tutorial shear failure paths for a WT section.
Tensile Yielding Figure 3.7.1
& Tensile Block Shear Failure Paths
Rupture of
Connecting
Elements
Bolt Bearing on
Holes
Block Shear
Selecting
Sections
Tension Limit
State Summary
Example
Problems
Homework
Problems
References
The Limit State:
Report Errors or
Make The basic limit state follows the standard form. The statement of the limit states and the associated reduction
Suggestions factor and factor of safety are given here:
Pu / (tRn) < 1.00 Pa / (Rn/t) < 1.00
t = 0.75 t = 2.00
The values of Pu and Pa are the LRFD and ASD factored loads, respectively, applied to the member.
Nominal Block Shear Rupture Strength, Rn:
The limit state value computed is the force that STARTS the rupture. Historically, the AISC specification
equations have assumed that rupture initiates either on the tensile area(s) or on the shear area(s), not on
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both surfaces simultaneously. With the AISC specification found in 13th edition of the SCM, revised equations
(Equations J45, in SCM J4.3) have been introduced. You should also read the commentary on the section
(SCM pg 16.1351).
The basic concept for computing the block shear rupture strength is that we compute the strength of the
tension region and the strength of the shear region and add them together. If you look at equation J45 you
will see the two terms. Equation 45 computes the nominal resistance, Rn, or strength associated with block
shear.
You should also notice that there are actually two equations in equation J45. The term to the left is the
situation for shear rupture/tensile rupture and the equation to the right is for shear yielding/tensile rupture.
The way the equations are written, you compute both values and take the smaller of the two.
One thing that you might notice right off is the presence of a "0.6" in the shear terms. It turns out that the Fu
and Fy values are determined by tension tests. The comparable terms in shear are approximately 0.6 times
the values for tension. Consequently, where ever shear strength is computed, we use the tension values
multiplied by 0.6. Chances are, whenever you see 0.6Fy and 0.6Fu in an equation then that equation is
computing shear strength.
The other quantity that will be new to you is the Ubs quantity. Ubs is new with this edition of the
specification. This quantity is used to account for non uniform tensile stress distribution when the block shear
region is non symmetric or in any other case where nonuniform tensile stress is likely to occur on the tensile
fracture area. This condition generally occurs whenever there is only one shear area in the failure path. The
SCM commentary gives examples of such situations. We have this situation in our example problem 3.1.
Equation J45 also contains three area quantities: Agv, Ant, and Anv. These terms are defined in J4.3 and
represent the gross and net areas in tension and shear along the failure path. The same concepts dealing
with holes that we discussed under tensile rupture apply to the computation of these quantities as well.
See example problem 3.1 for implementation of this limit state.
Another Example:
Example 3.1 is not sufficient to show what would happen with a flanged member, so let's assume that a
W10x30 is used to replace the tension member used in example problem 3.1. The same bolt pattern and size
is to be used. The same steel is also used. The same two failure paths are potentially a problem. Compute
Rn for each path.
For failure path #1, the only difference to the prior calculation is that the plate thickness is now the thickness
of the web, tw, for the given section. The values for the areas previously computed for path #1 can be
multiplied by (tw/0.75") to get the new values (the areas are linear with plate thickness in this case).
Agv = (15.75 in2)(0.30"/0.75") = 6.300 in2
Anv = (11.16 in2)(0.30"/0.75") = 4.46 in2
Ant = (3.84 in2)(0.30"/0.75") = 1.54 in2
Rn = (563.1 k)(0.30"/0.75")
Rn = 225.3 k
The big difference comes in path #2. In this case, the added tension area picks up the area of a flange when
the path exits to the side of the member. This makes Ant very large for failure path #2. Figure 3.7.2 shows
the cross section for Ant.
Figure 3.7.2
Tension Area
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Agv = (7.875 in2)(0.30"/0.75") = 3.150 in2
Anv = (5.58 in2)(0.30"/0.75") = 2.231 in2
Ant = (half Ag of section) + 3"(tw) (1.5 holes in the web) = 4.926 in2
Rn = 1027 k not to exceed 665 k = minimum(1027 k, 665 k)
Rn = 665 k
In this case, failure path #1 controls since the tension area in failure path #2 more than compensates for the
loss of shear failure path from path #1. The added flange area makes a big difference! Most experienced
engineers would probably have skipped failure path #2 because of this.
Sample Spreadsheet Pn Computation
There are probably many ways to arrange this computation, but here is one. The values in the shaded cells
are either entered manually or computed elsewhere and linked to these locations. Note that this spreadsheet
only ANALYZES a given member. For design problems where the member is unknown, you will need to solve
the limit state equation for the required bolt hole spacing and end distance then make decisions from there.
In the end, however, you need to show that your final selection satisfies the limit state using some calculation
similar to the one shown here.
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Agv 10.500 0.000 10.500 1.000 10.500
Anv 10.500 3.500 7.438 1.000 7.438
Ant 7.500 1.500 6.188 1.000 6.188
Ubs 0.5
Shear Shear Use
Fracture Yield
(k) (k) (k)
R n 438.3 406.2 406.2
Controlling Rn = 406.2k
IF you need to determine capacity:
LRFD ASD
t = 0.75 t = 2
t Pn = 305kips Pn / t = 203kips
CLF 1.40 CLF 0.90
Ps,eq = 217.6kips Ps,eq = 225.7kips
If you need to check capacity:
LRFD ASD
t = 0.75 t = 2
t Pn = 305kips Pn / t = 203kips
Pu 50.00kips Pa 50.00kips
Pu/tPn = 16.4%kips Pa / (Pn / t ) = 24.6%kips
Okay Okay
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