Whitmore Tension Section and Block Shear
Publication: Journal of Structural Engineering
Volume 145, Issue 2
Abstract
This paper examines the validity of the Whitmore net section tension capacity for the design of bolted gusset plates. Using simple algebra, this paper first shows that the Whitmore criterion and the correct block shear criterion would give similar results for a standard connection having approximately seven rows of bolts. It then shows that the Whitmore criterion severely underestimates the actual capacities of connections having two or three bolt rows tested by independent researchers. Conversely, it also shows that the same criterion overestimates the capacities of connections having nine bolt rows that were believed by the testing researchers to fail in the Whitmore section. Using finite-element analysis incorporating fracture simulation, this paper shows that the apparent Whitmore tensile fractures only took place because the tests were continued long after the ultimate limit state of block shear. This paper proposes that the Whitmore section check be made redundant in light of the block shear check, which accurately predicted the ultimate test loads of all the specimens.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
Acknowledgments
This research has been conducted with the support of the Australian Government Research Training Program Scholarship for the first author, administered by the University of Wollongong.
References
Aalberg, A., and P. K. Larsen. 1999 Strength and ductility of bolted connections in normal and high strength steels. Trondheim, Norway: Norwegian Univ. of Science and Technology.
AASHTO. 2013. Proposed changes to AASHTO specifications, AASHTO bridge committee agenda item, technical committee T-18 bridge management, evaluation, and rehabilitation/T-14 steel. Washington DC: AASHTO.
AISC. 2010. Specification for structural steel buildings. ANSI/AISC 360-10. Chicago: AISC.
AISC. 2016. Specification for structural steel buildings. ANSI/AISC 360-16. Chicago: AISC.
Astaneh-Asl, A. 1998. Seismic behaviour and design of gusset plates, structural tips. Moraga, CA: Structural Steel Educational Council.
Birkemoe, P. C., and M. I. Gilmor. 1978. “Behavior of bearing-critical double-angle beam connections.” Eng. J. AISC 15 (3): 109–115.
Bjorhovde, R., and S. K. Chakrabarti. 1985. “Tests of full-size gusset plate connections.” J. Struct. Eng. 111 (3): 667–684. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)0733-9445(1985)111:3(667).
Cheng, J. J. R., G. Y. Grondin, and M. C. H. Yam. 2000. “Design and behavior of gusset plate connections.” In Proc., 4th Int. Workshop on Connections in Steel Structures. Chicago: American Institute of Steel Construction.
Chesson, E., and W. H. Munse. 1963. “Riveted and bolted joints: Truss-type tensile connections.” J. Struct. Div. 89 (ST1): 67–106.
Clements, D. D. A., and L. H. Teh. 2013. “Active shear planes of bolted connections failing in block shear.” J. Struct. Eng. 139 (3): 320–327. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)ST.1943-541X.0000626.
Cunningham, T. J., J. G. Orbison, and R. D. Ziemian. 1995. “Assessment of American block shear load capacity predictions.” J. Construct. Steel Res. 35 (3): 323–338. https://doi.org/10.1016/0143-974X(94)00049-N.
Dowswell, B. 2013. “Calculation of stress trajectories using fracture mechanics.” Eng. J. AISC 50 (1): 3–20.
FHWA. 2009. Load rating guidance and examples for bolted and riveted gusset plates in truss bridges. Washington, DC: FHWA.
Gross, J. L., and G. Cheok. 1988. Experimental study of gusseted connections for laterally braced steel buildings. NISTIR 88-3849. Gaithersburg, MD: National Institute of Standards and Technology.
Hardash, S. G., and R. Bjorhovde. 1985. “New design criteria for gusset plates in tension.” Eng. J. AISC 22 (2): 77–94.
Higgins, C., A. E. Senturk, and O. T. Turan. 2010. “Comparison of block-shear and Whitmore section methods for load rating existing steel truss gusset plate connections.” J. Bridge Eng. 15 (2): 160–171. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)BE.1943-5592.0000048.
Huns, B. B. S., G. Y. Grondin, and R. G. Driver. 2002. Block shear behaviour of bolted gusset plates. Edmonton, AB: Univ. of Alberta.
Irvan, W. G. 1957. Experimental study of primary stresses in gusset plates of a double plane Pratt truss. Lexington, KY: Univ. of Kentucky.
Kulak, G. L., J. W. Fisher, and J. H. A. Struik. 2001. Guide to design criteria for bolted and riveted joints. 2nd ed. Chicago: AISC.
Liao, M., T. Okazaki, R. Ballarini, A. E. Schultz, and T. V. Galambos. 2011. “Nonlinear finite-element analysis of critical gusset plates in the I-35W bridge in Minnesota.” J. Struct. Eng. 137 (1): 59–68. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)ST.1943-541X.0000269.
Menzemer, C. C., L. Fei, and T. S. Srivatsan. 1999. “Design criteria for bolted connection elements in aluminum alloy 6061.” J. Mech. Des. 121 (3): 348–358. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.2829467.
Mullin, D. 2004. “Ductile gusset plates—Test and analyses.” In Pacific Structural Steel Conf. Chicago: American Institute of Steel Construction.
NCHRP (National Cooperative Highway Research Program). 2013. Guidelines for the load and resistance factor design and rating of riveted and bolted gusset-plate connections for steel bridges. Washington, DC:NCHRP, National Academies Press.
Rabern, D. A. 1983. “Stress, strain and force distributions in gusset plate connections.” M.Sc. thesis, Dept. of Civil Engineering and Engineering Mechanics, Univ. of Arizona.
Ramberg, W., and W. R. Osgood. 1943. Description of stress–strain curves by three parameters. Washington, DC: National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics.
Richard, R. M., D. A. Rabern, D. E. Hormby, and G. C. Williams. 1983. “Analytical models for steel connections.” In Proc., W. H. Munse Symp. Behavior of Metal Structures, 128–155. Reston, VA: ASCE.
Rosenstrauch, P. L., M. Sanayei, and B. R. Brenner. 2013. “Capacity analysis of gusset plate connections using the Whitmore, block shear, global section shear, and finite element methods.” Eng. Struct. 48: 543–557. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.engstruct.2012.08.032.
Sheng, N., M. C. H. Yam, and V. P. Iu. 2002. “Analytical investigation and the design of the compressive strength of steel gusset plate connections.” J. Construct. Steel Res. 58 (11): 1473–1493. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0143-974X(01)00076-1.
Teh, L. H., and D. D. A. Clements. 2012. “Block shear capacity of bolted connections in cold-reduced steel sheets.” J. Struct. Eng. 138 (4): 459–467. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)ST.1943-541X.0000478.
Teh, L. H., and G. G. Deierlein. 2017. “Effective shear plane model for tearout and block shear failure of bolted connections.” Eng. J. AISC 54 (3): 181–194.
Teh, L. H., and M. E. Uz. 2015. “Block shear failure planes of bolted connections—Direct experimental verifications.” J. Construct. Steel Res. 111 (6): 70–74. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcsr.2015.04.006.
Thornton, W. A., and C. Lini. 2011. “The Whitmore section: How to use the Whitmore method for tension and compression strength checks.” In Modern Steel Construction. Chicago: American Institute of Steel Construction.
Topkaya, C. 2004. “A finite element parametric study on block shear failure of steel tension members.” J. Construct. Steel Res. 60 (11): 1615–1635. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcsr.2004.03.006.
Wen, H., and H. Mahmoud. 2017. “Simulation of block shear failure in bolted connections.” J. Construct. Steel Res. 134: 1–16. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcsr.2017.03.006.
Whitmore, R. E. 1952. Experimental investigation of stresses in gusset plates. Knoxville, TN: Univ. of Tennessee.
Williams, G. C. 1988. “Steel connection design based on inelastic finite element analysis.” Ph.D. thesis. Dept. of Civil Engineering and Engineering Mechanics, Univ. of Arizona.
Williams, G. C., and R. M. Richard. 1996. “Analysis and design of large diagonal bracing connections.” Struct. Eng. Rev. 8 (1): 1–27.
Yamamoto, K., N. Akiyama, and T. Okumara. 1985. “Elastic analysis of gusseted truss joints.” J. Struct. Eng. 111 (12): 2545–2564. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)0733-9445(1985)111:12(2545).
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Structural Engineering
Volume 145 • Issue 2 • February 2019
Copyright
©2018 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Oct 20, 2017
Accepted: Aug 14, 2018
Published online: Nov 30, 2018
Published in print: Feb 1, 2019
Discussion open until: Apr 30, 2019
Authors
Metrics & Citations
Metrics
Citations
Download citation
If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.