CE 470 – Mid-term Exam Student Name: ____________________________

Problem No. 1
Total points = 50
Determine the design tensile strength of the C10 x 25 channel section made from A36 steel. The
member end connection is made using bolts that are ¾ in. in diameter made from A325 steel. The
bolt connection layout is shown below.
(1) Determine the design tensile strength: (45 pts)

(a) Consider only the limit states of gross yielding and net section fracture.
(b) For net section fracture, check all fracture paths (at least 3) you deem appropriate.
(c) Calculate U (shear lag factor) using the equation U=1-x/L≤0.9
(2) Answer the following questions qualitatively, i.e., without any calculations. (5 pts)

(a) What will be the block shear failure path for the member?
(b) Can the block shear strength be computed using the standard AISC equations, or will
you need to modify them? If so, How?

Solution
(5) getting material properties right + (5) for gross yielding strength
2
Fy  36 ksi Fu  58 ksi db  0.75 in Ag  7.34 in tw  0.526 in

Part 1

Gross Yielding Pny  0.9 Fy  Ag Pny  237.816 kips

(8) for computing U correctly

x
x  0.617 in L  5.5 in U  1  U  0.888 Less than 0.9
L

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CE 470 – Mid-term Exam Student Name: ____________________________

(9) points for each of three net fracture cases = 9 x 3 = 27

For each case: Assumption of correct path (2)
Calculation of correct net width = (5)
Calculation of correct fracture strength = (2)

2” 3” 2.5”

2”
Fracture Path
3”

3”
C10x25
2”

Net Fracture Case 2

An  Ag  3  db 
1 2 2
  tw An  5.959 in Ae  U An Ae  5.291 in
 8

7
Pnf2  0.75 Fu  Ae  Pnf2  322.205kips
5

2” 3” 2.5”

2”
Fracture Path
3”

3”
C10x25
2”

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CE 470 – Mid-term Exam Student Name: ____________________________

2” 3” 2.5”

2” Af/2
Fracture Path
3” T Aredg
3”
C10x25
2” Af/2

Additional (more than three) cases to be considered for no points

Net Fracture Case 4 T  8 in ( AISC) s  2.5 in g  3 in
Aredg  T tw Aredg  4.208 in
Af  Ag  Aredg Af  3.132 in
2
wn  T  3  db 
1 s
  1 wn  5.896 in
 8 4 g
2 2
An  Af  wn  tw An  6.233 in Ae  U An Ae  5.534 in

7
Pnf3  0.75 Fu  Ae  Pnf3  280.848kips
6

2” 3” 2.5”

2” Af/2
Fracture Path
3” T Aredg
3”
C10x25
2” Af/2

This is obviously (5) points

Part 2
By examining the results in Part 1, the block shear failure path would be as follows:
2” 3” 2.5”

2”
Fracture Path
3”

3”
C10x25
2”

In this case, no modifications to the AISC equation is required. However, if the results in Part 1
indicate that Path 2 governs, then the AISC equations would have to be modified as follows:

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CE 470 – Mid-term Exam Student Name: ____________________________

 s
2
Agt  tw  6  2 
 4 g 

Ant  Agt   db 
1
  tw
 8

Ultimately, the equation for the gross area is computed as follows:

 s2 
Agt  t w  g    Where g is the vertical spacing.
 4g 

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CE 470 – Mid-term Exam Student Name: ____________________________

Problem No. 2
Total points=50
(a) Using the tension member design Tables in the AISC manual, select a double angle
tension member (with equal legs) to carry a factored design load of 150 kips.
(b) Is the net section fracture strength noted in Table 3-7 correct? If not, then where does the
approximation appear in this Table?
(c) Assuming ¾ in. diameter A325 bolts in shear/bearing for the connection system, how
many such bolts do you need for the connection?
(d) Assuming Le=2 in., s=3.0 in., sketch a reasonable bolt layout, what is the actual net
section fracture design strength?
(e) What is the block shear strength assuming that the shear fracture strength dominates, i.e.,
Rn = 0.75 [0.6FuAnv + FyAgt] ≤ 0.75 [0.6FuAnv + FuAnt]
(f) Is the original selected member still valid? Do not re-design, just state what needs to be
changed to make it valid.

Solution
(4) points for selecting a reasonable section. No deduction for not picking the lightest section.
Just a warning. Sections in the neighborhood of the lightest section are OK.
(a) The most economical section from Table 3-7 is a 2L3½ x 3 x 3/8 Py = 150 k, Pn = 151 k
(4) points for this
(b) When Ae < 0.75 Ag, tabulated values of design tension rupture cannot be used. Tables assume
Ae = 0.75 Ag
(12 points) for this calculation (4 for bearing and 8 for bolt shear strength)
(c) For bearing strength, assuming Le  Lefull and s  sfull Rn = 78.3 kips/in (Table 7-12)
Rn = 78.3 kips/in
Pu
Rn  78.3 t 2 Rn  58.725 kips of 1 bolt n  n  2.554 bolts
Rn

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CE 470 – Mid-term Exam Student Name: ____________________________

Pu
Shear Strength 1 bolt: Rn  31.8 kips (Table 7-10) n  n  4.717 bolts
Rn
Make n  5 bolts
Bearing Rn  58.725n
 Rn  293.625 kips
kips
Rn  78.3Rn 
Shear Rn  78.3
31.8 n Rn  159 kips
in
Pu
Rn  78.3 t Rn  29.362 kips of 1 bolt n  n  5.109 bolts
Rn

KK: The bearing strength will be 78.3 x t x 2 = 58.6 kips because there are two angles, and each
shares half the load. If they don’t do this step and use the shear strength of the bolt directly,
deduct only a few points (max. 5).
Pu
Shear Strength 1 bolt: Rn  31.8 kips (Table 7-10) n  n  4.717 bolts
Rn
Make n  6 bolts
Bearing Rn  29.3626
 Rn  176.172 kips
Shear Rn  31.8 6 Rn  190.8 kips

(10) points for this calculation (net area calculation =3, U calculation =4, strength calc. = 3)
(d) Bolt layout shown below. Path shown for block shear in Part (e).

2” 3” 3” 3” 3” 32” 2”
2”

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CE 470 – Mid-term Exam Student Name: ____________________________

2
Ag  2.32 in

An  Ag  
1 3
 t 2 2 Angles 2
8 4 An  1.992 in An  2 An An  3.984 in
x
x  0.823 in L  15 in U  1  U  0.945 U  0.9
L
2
Ae  An  U Ae  3.585 in

Pn  0.75 Fu  Ae Pn  155.964 kips

((18 points for this calculation)

Path = 3, Anv=5, Agt=2, Ant=5, Final strength = 3
(e) Path shown above in (d).

Anv  t  14  4.5 
1 3 
  Anv  3.773 in
 8 4 

Agt  t 2 Agt  0.75 in

Ant  t  2  0.5  
 1 3  
   Ant  0.586 in
  8 4  

Fy  Agt  27 kips Fu  Ant  33.984 kips Use Equation Below:

Rn  0.75 ( 0.6 Fu  Anv  Fy  Agt ) Rn  118.737 kips

2 Angles 2 Rn  237.473 kips

Anv  t  17  5.5 
1 3 
  Anv  4.57 in
 8 4 

Agt  t 2 Agt  0.75 in

Ant  t  2  0.5  
 1 3  
  
  8 4   Ant  0.586 in

Fy  Agt  27 kips Fu  Ant  33.984 kips Use Equation Below:

Rn  0.75 ( 0.6 Fu  Anv  Fy  Agt ) Rn  139.535 kips

2 Angles 2 Rn  279.07 kips

(2) points for this conclusion

(f) Section is adequate.

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CE 470 – Mid-term Exam Student Name: ____________________________

Problem No. 3
(Total points=50)

Design the welded connection (only) for the member shown below. The given loads are service
loads. Assume Fy=50 ksi for the angle tension member, and Fy=36 ksi for the gusset plate. Show
the connection design on a sketch complete with all dimensions.

Note: You will have to consider both (angle and gusset) base metal strengths to compare with the
fillet weld strength.

Solution
Calculation of factored load = 2 points
Amin = 4 points
A max = 4 points
Selecting correct a = 2 points
Lmin= 4 points
Lmax=4 points
Implementing Lmax=2 points
Weld metal strength = 8 points
Base metal strength = 6 + 6 points
Required weld length = 3 points
Figure showing detail layout = 5 points

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CE 470 – Mid-term Exam Student Name: ____________________________

5 3
Fya  50 ksi Fyg  36 ksi D  45 kips L  136 kips ta  in tg  in
16 8
Pu  1.2 D  1.6 L Pu  271.6 kips

5 3 1
tmin  in tmax  in amax  tmin  amax  0.25 in
16 8 16
3
amin  in Table J2.4 Make a  0.25 in Fexx 70 ksi
16
Strength Weld Metal Rn( Lw)  0.75 0.6 Fexx 0.707 a Lw  5.56762500 Lw
Base Strenght Gusset Rn( Lw)  0.9 0.6 Fyg  tg  Lw  7.2900000000000000000
 Lw
Base Strenght Angle Rn( Lw)  0.9 0.6 Fya ta Lw  8.4375000000000000000
 Lw
Strength Weld Metal Governs
271.6
Lw  Lw  48.782 in
5.56762500
Lwmin  4 a  1.00 in
Lwmax 100 a  25.00 in Therefore, in one strip, the effective length of the
weld can't be greater than 25 in.

22 in.

5 in.

22 in.

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CE 470 – Mid-term Exam Student Name: ____________________________

25 in.

0.5 in.

0.5 in.

25 in.

0.25 in. 25 in.

0.25 in. 25 in.

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CE 470 – Mid-term Exam Student Name: ____________________________

Problem No. 4.
Total points = 50

Design a bolted splice connection for a single angle tension member. The service loads acting on
the member are 50 kips dead load + 30 kips live load.
The splice must be slip-critical for service loads, and have adequate shear/bearing strength for
factored loads. Assume 7/8 in. diameter A325 bolts.
(1) Design and check the splice to be slip-critical at service loads
(2) Design and check the shear/bearing strength of splice at ultimate loads.
(3) Design the thickness and width of the gusset plate
(4) Provide a sketch of the splice detail.
There is no need to check the design strength of the angle at ultimate loads. Assume that the
angle design works.

Solution
7
D  50 kips L  30 kips db  in t  0.5 in
8
Part 1

SL  D  L  80 kips
Rn  10.2 kips For Slip Critical, One Bolt from Table 7-16 Use 8 bolts n  8

Rn  10.2 n Rn  81.6 kips

(12 points for slip critical design)

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CE 470 – Mid-term Exam Student Name: ____________________________

(18 points for shear bearing design) – 8 for shear, and 10 for bearing.

Part 2

Pu  1.2 D  1.6 L Pu  108 kips

Shear (Table 7-10) Rn  21.6 n Rn  172.8 kips ok

Bearing

Lemin  1.125 Table J3.4 Make Le  1.25 in

smin  2.6667db
 smin  2.333 in
spref  3 db spref  2.625 in Use s  3 in

For Edge: Rn  40.8 t Rn  20.4 kips

For Interior Spacing: Rn  91.3 t Rn  45.65 kips
  20.4 Rn  339.95 kips ok
Rn  45.657
Note Assume Gusset Plate has same thickness

(15 points for gusset plate design) 5 points for getting 0.85 factor
Part 3
Make U=0.85 From AISC 16.1-178 U  0.85
Pu 2
Ag  Ag  3.333 in
0.9 36
Ag
width  width  6.667 in Make b  7 in
0.5
Ag  b  0.5 Ag  3.5 in

An  Ag   db 
1
  0.5
 8
Gross Yielding Py  Ag  0.9 36 Py  113.4 kips

Net Fracture Pn  0.75 U An  58 Pn  110.925 kips

Part 4

(5 points for pretty picture)

1.25”
3” 3” 3” 3” 3” 3” 3” 1.25”

12