Tension Members:

Previously you have studied about the joining and connecting methods for various steel structural components, and how to design them for the forces acting on them. Here you will study about these steel structural elements themselves and how to design them for the loads to which they are subjected. These involve members subjected to tension, to compression and to bending stresses. Here, we shall be studying about the design of tension members that is those steel elements which are subjected to tensile forces only. The elements may be simple or compound (i.e. more than one element). Normally, the tensile force passes through the CG of the section but sometimes a small eccentricity may be present for which the member has to be designed for the increased stresses. Presence of cracks, rivet holes, unconnected legs etc. affect the strength of the element and has to be taken into account.

Objectives

After studying this unit, you should be able to

• Conceptualise and describes tension member,
• Elaborates the categories of loading considered in the design of steel structures,
• Design the single steel tension member,
• Design the compound tension member, and
• Design a lug angles and gusset plate connections of the tension member.