Jomer Joseph S.

Caderao

I. Introduction

Structural steel design is an area of knowledge used by structural engineers in designing

buildings, bridges as well other structures. On the other hand, tension members are structural
elements that are subjected to axial tensile forces. According to Dr. Seshu Adluri, Tension
members are the most efficient and economical out of all the structural elements. This is because
the entire cross section is subjected to uniform stress. Tension members are usually used in bracing
of buildings and bridges, truss members, and cables in suspended roof systems. The effects of
loads on structure are determined through structural analysis.
There are currently two common methods of steel design, the first method is the Allowable
Strength Design (ASD) while the second method is the Load and Resistance Factor Design
(LRFD). In this exercise, we analyse the truss using Grasp.
A truss is a structure composed of straight members that are connected to each other at at
the end of it’s two points. Shown in figure 1 is an example of a truss, truss bridge to be specific.
Members of truss structures are connected together with pin joints assuming that joints cannot
carry or resist any moments just for the purpose of the design of these structures. It is also being
assumed that all external load acting on a truss only act at the joints, making all of the members
two-force members.
At the end of this computational exercise, the magnitude of the tensile force using both the
concept of ASD and LRFD should be determined. In addition to that, the bottom chord must use
double angle bars while tension web members will use single angle bars.
 Figure 1. Truss Bridge

II. Theoretical Background

In finding the internal forces in members of truss the method of joints and method of section
are the two major methods that are commonly used. Method of joints is used used for the case
where the truss needs to handle external loads, while the method of sections is used when
modifying the internal members of an existing truss. It is assumed in both methods that when a
structure is in equilibrium, all pieces of the structure are in equilibrium as well.
LRFD and ASD loads, on the other hand, are not directly comparable since ASD compares
actual and allowable stresses while LRFD compares required strength to actual strengths.
However, it is not much of a problem since the new AISC allowable strength design has already
switch the old stress based terminology to a strength based terminology.
Everytime member strengths are being considered, the actual loads of the final design
should always be below yielding so as to prevent permanent deformation of the structure.
Therefore, if the LRFD approach is used, the load factors greater than 1.0 must be applied to the
applied loads to express them in terms that are safely comparable to the ultimate strength levels.
This is accomplished in the load combination equations that consider the probabilities associated
with simultaneous occurrence of different types of loads.
III. Data and Sample Computations

Figure 2. Given Figure where N=12

Figure 3. Grasp Analysis (ASD)

 Figure 4. Grasp Analysis (LRFD)

Table 1. Highest and Lowest Values of Member Forces, Computed Ag and Ae

Bottom Cord: ASD LRFD Ag(ASD) Ae(ASD) Ag(LRFD) Ae(LRFD)

Highest 1612.50 2103.75 10836.69 8062.50 9425.40 7012.50

Lowest 1290.00 1683 8669.35 6450.00 7540.32 5610.00
Tension Web:

Highest 430 561 2889.78 2150 2513.44 1870

Lowest 107.5 140.25 722.45 537.5 628.36 467.5

Table 2. ASD Bottom Cord

Highest: Dimension A x U=1-X/L L Ae = U* A Remark
2L203X102X19LL
Ag = 10836.69 BB 11000 24.1 0.839333 150 9232.667 Passed
2L203X102X22.2
Ae = 8062.50 SLBB 12600 56.1 0.253 150 3187.80 Passed
2L203X152X19LL
BB 12900 39.6 0.736 150 9494.4 Passed
Lowest:
2L203X152X12.7
Ag = 8669.35 LLBB 8770 37.1 0.753 150 6600.89 Passed
2L203X152X14.3
Ae =6450.00 LLBB 9810 37.8 0.748 150 7337.88 Passed
2L203X152X15.9
LLBB 10800 38.4 0.744 150 8035.20 Passed
 Table 3. ASD Tension Web
Highest: Dimension A x U=1-X/L L Ae = U* A Remark
Ag = 2889.78 L178X102X11.1 4910 63 0.58 150 2847.8 Passed
Ae = 2150 L203X102X11.1 4390 62.5 0.5833333333 150 2560.833333 Passed
L178X102X12.7 3860 61.7 0.5886666667 150 2272.253333 Passed
Lowest:
Ag = 722.45 L3-1/2X2-1/2X3/8 1370 29.2 0.8053333333 150 1103.306667 Passed
L3-1/2X2-
Ae = 537.5 1/2X5/16 1150 28.7 0.8086666667 150 929.9666667 Passed
L3-1/2X2-1/2X1/4 935 27.9 0.814 150 761.09 Passed

Table 4. LRFD Bottom Cord

Highest: Dimension A x U=1-X/L L Ae = U* A Remark
2L203X152X14
Ag = 9425.40 .3LLBB 9810 37.8 0.748 150 7337.88 Passed
2L203X152X15
Ae = 7012.50 .9LLBB 10800 38.4 0.744 150 8035.20 Passed
2L203X152X19
LLBB 12900 39.6 0.736 150 9494.40 Passed
Lowest:
2L203X152X11
Ag = 7540.32 .1LLBB 7740 36.6 0.756 150 9136.533333 Passed
2L203X152X12
Ae = 5610.00 .7LLBB 8770 37.1 0.753 150 7825 Passed
2L203X152X14
.3LLBB 9810 37.8 0.748 150 6389.933333 Passed
 Table 5. LRFD Tension Cord
Highest: Dimension A x U=1-X/L L Ae = U* A Remark
Ag = 2513.44086 L5X5X5/8 3810 37.3 0.7513333333 150 2862.58 Passed
Ae =1870 L5X5X1/2 3090 36.1 0.7593333333 150 2346.34 Passed
L5X5X7/16 2720 35.6 0.7626666667 150 2074.453333 Passed
Lowest:
L3X2-
Ag = 628.3602151 1/2X5/16 1050 23.5 0.8433333333 150 885.5 Passed
Ae = 467.5 L3X2-1/2X1/4 852 22.9 0.8473333333 150 721.928 Passed
L3X2-
1/2X3/16 645 22.2 0.852 150 549.54 Passed

IV. Analysis and Conclusion

The values of member forces in the structural analysis using grasp is shown in table 1
(ASD) and table 2 (LRFD). The highest and lowest values of member forces for both bottom
chord and tension web members in both ASD and LRFD were then chosen and is shown in table
3. Ag and Ae were then computed using the formulas Ag=Pa/0.60(Fy) and Ae= Pa/0.5(Fu) for
ASD and Ag=Pu/0.90(Fy) Ae=Pu/0.75(Fu) for LRFD. Moreover, tables 4, 5, 6, and 7 shows the
dimensions of the steel as well as the W, y, and A values that were obtained from ‘AISC shapes
database for steel’. In addition to that, the computation for the effective area was also shown
where it is again computed using the formula Ae= U*An, where U=1-X/L and L was assumed to
be 150mm. so we are able to design the steel members according to the AISC with the correct
dimensions given the correct
In designing a truss structure, it is necessary to find out how much load is carried by each
member of the truss. Moreover, in case of an existing truss structure, some members may need to
be replaced. Therefore, the internal force carried by those members within the truss structure
must be determined. In conclusion, it is important in structural steel design to find out and decide
whether members can sustain the forces applied or not as well as what size of members and what
type of cross section are needed.
 V. References

[1] Adluri, S. (n.d.). Structural Steel Design Tension Members. Retrived January 30, 2016, from
http://www.engr.mun.ca/~adluri/courses/steel/ppt%20files1/Topic%20-Tension%20members.pdf

[2] Retrieved January 30, 2016 from http://steel-insdag.org/TeachingMaterial/Chapter5.pdf

[3] Retrieved January 30, 2016 from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steel_design

[4] Quimby, B. T. (2008). ASD vs LRFD. Retrieved January 30, 2016, from
http://www.bgstructuralengineering.com/BGDesign/BGDesign05.htm

[5] Quimby, B. T. (2009). Comparing LRFD vs ASD. Retrieved January 30, 2016, from
http://www.bgstructuralengineering.com/BGASCE7/BGASCE7002/BGASCE700203.htm

[6] Truss Analysis in 7 Easy Steps - Udemy. (n.d.). Retrieved January 30, 2016, from
https://www.udemy.com/truss-analysis/