Finite Element Studies of Block Shear for Structural Tees

by Ramesh B. Malla, Univ of Connecticut, Storrs, United States,
Howard I. Epstein, Univ of Connecticut, Storrs, United States,



Document Type: Proceeding Paper

Part of: Mechanics Computing in 1990's and Beyond

Abstract:

Structural tees are commonly used as tension members. As a first step toward testing the adequacy of the current design codes for net section and block shear failures near the connections of structural tee tension members, a finite element study was undertaken. This paper reports the results of the study. In particular, the relative failure loads for varying outstanding legs of the tension member are presented. The material is considered to behave elasto-plastically, and the finite element analysis is carried out with material nonlinearity. The study indicates that increasing the outstanding leg sizes in a structural tee tension member connected only through the flange, produces a greater tendency for block shear failure. An increase in the outstanding leg does not necessarily contribute to greater failure loads. Finite element and experimental studies for angles in tension have shown that, due to eccentricity, there may even be a reduction in load with increasing area. For the tee in the elastic range, the loads are observed to decrease for a range of increasing outstanding leg lengths. This is contrary to the increasing net section and the constant block shear failure loads predicted by design codes. The effect of the outstanding leg thickness is also investigated.

Subject Headings: Failure loads | Shear failures | Finite element method | Failure analysis | Tension members | Tensile structures | Structural failures

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