CE322-18 PRINCIPLES OF STEEL DESIGN – PRACTICE PROBLEM CHAPTER 3

INSTRUCTIONS:

Use five (5) decimal places for your calculations but record your final answer/s in two (2)
decimal places. Each problem should be written on a new sheet of paper.

Problem No. 1
Determine the lightest W12 sections that can be used using LRFD for members in Group A,
B and C in the bottom chord of the truss shown. There are 4-16mmϕ bolts in a section as
shown and it can be assumed that there are 3 rows of bolt as per direction of loading.
The service loads PDL= 61kN and PLL= 123kN, Use A36 steel. Ignore bolt shear failure.

12@3m = 36m

4m

A B C C B A

Pu Pu Pu Pu Pu

a) Determine the axial force on Group B. (Ans. 1316.25kN)

b) Design Group B members using the lightest W12 section and with DCR within range
0.85-0.95. (Ans. W12x35)

Problem No. 2
A 4 – 22mmØ bolts are used in a staggered connection as shown in the figure below. Use A36
steel.

35 x 15

A
50 B
70 C Pu 200
40
D

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 a) Calculate the value of distance “x” in mm such that the net width in chain A-B-C-D
is equal to the net width of the chain A-B-D. (Ans. 29.18mm)
b) What is the design strength in kN against yielding? (Ans. 669.60kN)
c) Using the value of x in question a, what is the design strength in kN against rupture
for chain A-B-C-D? (Ans. 589.09kN)
d) Determine the design tensile strength in kN for chain A-B-D. (Ans. 785.45kN)
Note: The transfer of applied force from plates to bolts varies depending on the
location of failure path. For example, if some of the bolts was bypassed in defining
the assumed failure path, each bolt will equally share the applied load P. Only a
percentage of applied load will be transferred to the other part of the plate.

Problem No. 3
An angle is welded to the plate as shown in the figure below. Use A50 and A36 steel for the
angle and gusset plate respectively. Assume LRFD.

weld

L6x3-1/2x1/2
b 250
d
ഥ
𝒙

b
15
0
a) Calculate the shear lag factor, U. (Ans. U = 0.8596)
b) Compute the design tensile strength in kN. (Ans. 838.46kN)
c) If the angle is subjected to an axial dead load of 250kN, determine the maximum safe
axial live load (in kN) that the section can support. Use 1.2D + 1.6L load combo.
(Ans. 336.54kN)
d) Based on the design tensile strength of the angle, determine the required gusset
plate thickness (in mm). (Ans. 15.03mm)

Problem No. 4
Refer to the figure shown below. The nominal hole diameter is 24mm. Use A36 steel.

L6x4x1/2

65

55

65 75 75

Tip: Read ppt page 21 Steel Areas>Net Area>For angles

a) Determine the critical net area in mm2. (Ans. 2514.52mm2)

b) Compute the design tensile strength in kN. (Ans. 684.108kN)

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Problem No. 5
The canopy of a storage building shown in the figure is spaced 4m apart. The wind load
normal to the roof surface is p = 15kPa. Take s = 0.8m and H = 1.8m. Ignore self-weight of
trusses. Use A36 steel and ASD. Design the top chord of the truss considering yielding
failure only against wind load.

p D

C H

A E F G

S S S

a) Determine the axial load in member AB. (Ans. 40kN Tension)

b) Determine the axial load in member BC. (Ans. 57.5kN Tension)
c) Determine the axial load in member CD. (Ans. 75kN Tension)
d) Find the lightest equal angle L2x2 that can be used for member AB. (Ans. L2x2x1/8)
e) Find the lightest equal angle L2x2 that can be used for member BC. (Ans. L2x2x3/16)
f) Find the lightest equal angle L2x2 that can be used for member CD. (Ans. L2x2x1/4)

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Problem No. 6
Refer to the double splice connection shown below. The bolts are 16mm diameter in standard
holes. The two plates at the left are both PL300x10 and the plate at the right is PL300x18. Use
A36 steel.

40 40

60

90
T T
90

60

T/2
T
T/2

a) Determine the critical net area (in mm2). (Ans. 4320mm2)

b) Calculate the design tensile strength (in kN) considering yielding failure. (Ans.
1205.28kN)
c) Calculate the design tensile strength (in kN) considering rupture failure. (Ans. 1296kN)
d) If the plates are subjected to an axial dead load of 420kN, determine the maximum safe
axial live load (in kN) that the section can support based on LRFD. (Ans. 438.3kN)

Problem No. 7
The PL320x16 plate was connected in the gusset plate shown below with three lines of 22mm
nominal hole diameter in staggered arrangement. Use A50 steel for PL320x16 and A36 steel
for the gusset plate. Use ASD in your calculations. Ignore limit An = 0.85Ag.

70 110

X
100 16
A
Gusset plate
70 B

90 C
P 320
90
D

70
E F 100
X Section X-X

a) Calculate the tensile strength (in kN) of the plate considering yielding failure. (Ans.
1057.72kN)
b) For Path A-B-C-F: determine the plate’s tensile strength (in kN) considering rupture
failure. (Ans. 1095.31kN)
c) For Path A-B-C-D-E: determine the plate’s tensile strength (in kN) considering rupture
failure. (Ans. 1129.76kN)
d) For Path A-B-D-E: determine the plate’s tensile strength (in kN) considering rupture
failure. (Ans. 1462.27kN)
e) Based on the tensile strength of PL320x16, determine the required gusset plate
thickness (in mm) considering yielding failure. (Ans. 13.70mm)
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Problem No. 8
The single angle L3x3x1/4 shown in figure is welded to a 6mm thick gusset plate. All steels are
A36 and LRFD. In this problem, assume L1 = 65 mm and L2 = 120mm.

Pu
L3x3x1/4

L1

L2
Gusset
plate

a) Determine the safe value of Pu (in kN) based on yielding failure. (Ans. 207.35kN)
b) Calculate the appropriate shear lag factor. (Ans. 0.77)
c) Find safe load Pu (in kN) based on rupture failure. (Ans. 214.74kN)
d) What service live load (in kN) could be applied if live load is twice the value of dead load?
(Ans. 94.25kN)

Properties of a single L3x3x1/4:

A = 929 mm2 Ix = 512x103 mm4 Iy = 512x103 mm4
d = 76.2 mm Zx =16.71x103 mm3 Zy =16.71x103 mm3
b = 76.2 mm Sx = 9.32x103 mm3 Sy = 9.32x103 mm3
t = 6.4 mm rx = 23.52 mm ry = 23.52 mm
y-bar = 21.23 mm x-bar = 21.23 mm

Problem No. 9
The PL350x22mm thk plate shown below has a nominal hole diameter of 22mm. Assume A36
steel.

F A

90
B

115
C P
90
D

55
G E H
40 70

a) Determine the critical net area (in mm2). (Ans. 6775.46mm2)

b) Calculate the allowable tensile strength (in kN) considering yielding failure. (Ans.
1143.47kN)
c) Calculate the allowable tensile strength (in kN) considering rupture failure. (Ans.
1355.09kN)

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Problem No. 10
Given the following data of the splice connection shown:
Dimensions:
s1= 50mm; s2 = 100mm; s3 = 90mm;
t1 = 20mm; t2 = 12mm s1 s3 s1 s1 s3 s1
Use A36 steel and ASD.
s1

P s2 P

s1

t2
P t1 P
t2

a) Calculate the allowable tensile strength (in kN) considering yielding failure. (Ans.
594.01kN)
b) Compute the minimum design hole diameter (in mm) of the critical plate considering
rupture failure when P = 640kN. (Ans. 20mm)
c) Compute the minimum nominal hole diameter (in mm) for the top plate considering
rupture failure when P = 640kN. (Ans. 31.33mm)
d) Assuming design hole diameter, dh = 25mm and with the plates subjected to an axial
dead load of 215kN, determine the maximum safe axial live load (in kN) that the
section can support. (Ans. 379.01kN)

Problem No. 11
The W10x39 tension member shown is bolted at its ends by two lines of 20mm diameter bolts.
The connection plates are 16mm thick. Assume A50 steel.

50 75 75 75

16mm thk
plate
90 P

a) What is the design tensile strength (in kN) of the section against yielding failure? (Ans.
2303.60kN)
b) Determine the critical net area (in mm2). (Ans. 7035mm2)
c) Calculate the appropriate shear lag factor. (Ans. 0.91)
d) Find design tensile strength (in kN) based on rupture failure. (Ans. 2153.65kN)
Properties of a single
W10x39: Ix = 86,992x103 mm4 Zy = 281.86x103 mm3
A = 7,419 mm 2 3
Zx = 766.91x10 mm 3 Sy = 185.17x103 mm3
d = 252.0 mm Sx = 689.90x103 mm3 ry = 50.29 mm
bf = 202.9 mm rx = 108.46 mm rts = 56.90 mm
tw = 8.0 mm 3
Iy = 18,730x10 mm 4

tf = 13.5 mm

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Problem No. 12
Determine the adequacy of tension member in a given truss system below. Ignore self-weight
of trusses. Use A36 steel and LRFD. Let s = 3m, h = 1.5m.
Given the following loads:
Service Dead Load, P = 105kN
Service Wind Loads: H1 = 16kN; H2 = 27kN; H3 = 11kN;
Use 1.2 DL + 1.0 WL load combo.

H3 P

C
H2
G
H1 F h

A B
D E

S S S

Longer leg parallel

with Gusset Plate

Gusset Plate

L3x2-1/2x3/8
20mmØ bolt on oversized holes

200
0
CONNECTION DETAILS

a) Compute internal force of member DE (in kN) (Ans. 227.74kN)

b) What is the tensile capacity of member DE (in kN) under yielding failure? (Ans.
277.88kN)
c) What is the tensile capacity of member DE (in kN) under rupture failure? (Ans.
272.20kN)
d) What is the DCR value against yielding? (Ans. 0.82)
e) What is the DCR value against rupture? (Ans. 0.84)

Properties of a single L3x2-

1/2x3/8: Ix = 687x103 mm4 Iy = 429x103 mm4
A = 1245 mm2 Zx =23.76x103 mm3 Zy =16.88x103 mm3
d = 63.5 mm Sx = 13.16x103 mm3 Sy= 9.39x103 mm3
b = 76.2 mm rx = 23.47 mm ry = 18.57 mm
t = 9.5 mm y-bar = 24.10 mm x-bar = 17.81 mm

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Problem No. 13
A billboard 3m high by 4m wide is supported as shown in the figure. The total weight of the
billboard is 30kN acting on joint B. Assume H = 1.5m, s1 =150mm, θ = 60º. Use A36 and
ASD.
Wind pressure, q = 1.6 kPa
Wind pressure coefficient, c = 1.0

L2x2x1/8
A L2x2x1/8

H B
θ
s1
H

C
Billboard
3m x 4m
ELEVATION

JOINT B

a) Define design wind force F (in kN) acting on joint B. (Ans. 19.20kN)

b) What is the axial load in strut AB (in kN). (Ans. 18.91kN)

c) What is the allowable tensile capacity of the tension strut (in kN) under yielding failure?
(Ans. 47.07kN)

d) What is the allowable tensile capacity of the tension strut (in kN) under rupture failure?
(Ans. 57.67kN)

e) Based on the governing tensile strength in the above questions, what additional
downward load (in kN) could be applied at joint B before the tension strut will fail? (Ans.
9.25kN)

Properties of a single L2x2x1/8:

A = 317 mm2 Ix = 79x103 mm4 Iy = 79x103 mm4
d = 50.8 mm Zx =3.77x103 mm3 Zy =3.77x103 mm3
b = 50.8 mm Sx = 2.11x103 mm3 Sy= 2.11x103 mm3
t = 3.2 mm rx = 15.75 mm ry = 15.75 mm
y-bar = 13.56 mm x-bar = 13.56 mm

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Problem No. 14
The 6m pole ABC is acted upon by a 50kN
force as shown. The pole is held by a ball-
and-socket joint at A and by two cables BD
and BE. Assume LRFD and A36 steel.
50kN

3m

a) Determine the tension (kN) in cable BE. (Ans. 42.86kN)

b) Determine the tension (kN) in cable BD. (Ans. 85.71kN)
c) What is the required diameter (mm) for cable BE? (Ans. 15.57mm)
d) What is the required diameter (mm) for cable BD? (Ans. 22.02mm)

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