Connection Screen — Tension Member Screening
Tension Member Screening — a screening-level structural check.
Tension members race two finish lines: gentle yielding of the whole bar versus sudden rupture at the holes. The shear-lag factor U inside the effective area is where single-angle braces lose 20–40% — the end connection's geometry quietly sets the member's strength.
Formula
Note: Screening only — NOT a connection design. All capacities must be verified by a licensed engineer against the governing code, including the limit states this simplified check omits.
Tension Member Screening — a screening-level structural check. A free structural steel delivery & erection tool — no sign-up, no upload, instant results in your browser.
About Connection Screen — Tension Member Screening
Connection Screen — Tension Member Screening computes the governing relationship φPn = min(0.9FyAg, 0.75FuAe) live as you type. Tension members race two finish lines: gentle yielding of the whole bar versus sudden rupture at the holes. The shear-lag factor U inside the effective area is where single-angle braces lose 20–40% — the end connection's geometry quietly sets the member's strength. Defaults are pre-filled with realistic values for this exact scenario, and the worked example substitutes your numbers step by step so the math is never a black box.
How to use Connection Screen — Tension Member Screening
- 1Enter your values — Gross area, Effective net area (U×An), Fy, Fu (sensible defaults are pre-filled).
- 2Read the live results: Yield (0.9FyAg), Rupture (0.75FuAe), Governing design capacity.
- 3Check the "with your numbers" line to see φPn = min(0.9FyAg, 0.75FuAe) substituted step by step.
- 4Adjust inputs until the scenario matches yours, then copy or share the result.
Why use Connection Screen — Tension Member Screening?
- ✓Instant, free and private — every calculation runs client-side in your browser; nothing is uploaded
- ✓Built on the stated formula φPn = min(0.9FyAg, 0.75FuAe) with authoritative sources cited on the page (AISC 360 — Specification for Structural Steel Buildings; RCSC — Specification for Structural Joints Using High-Strength Bolts)
- ✓Tension members race two finish lines: gentle yielding of the whole bar versus sudden rupture at the holes.
- ✓Niche-specific defaults give a meaningful worked answer the moment the page loads
Frequently asked questions
What formula does the connection screen — tension member screening use?+
It evaluates φPn = min(0.9FyAg, 0.75FuAe), exactly as published. Sources: AISC 360 — Specification for Structural Steel Buildings; RCSC — Specification for Structural Joints Using High-Strength Bolts. The substituted worked example on the page lets you verify every step against the textbook.
How should I read the result — and how far can I trust it?+
Tension members race two finish lines: gentle yielding of the whole bar versus sudden rupture at the holes. Screening only — NOT a connection design. All capacities must be verified by a licensed engineer against the governing code, including the limit states this simplified check omits.
When is this calculator the right tool for the job?+
Tension Member Screening. The shear-lag factor U inside the effective area is where single-angle braces lose 20–40% — the end connection's geometry quietly sets the member's strength. For neighbouring scenarios, the related tools below cover the same engine with different presets.
Do I need to install anything or create an account?+
No. The tool is pure client-side JavaScript: open the page and it works, offline once loaded, with no account, no quota and no data leaving your device.
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