BLOCK SHEAR FAILURE IN TENSION MEMBERS

                           Block shear is a limit state that should be accounted for during the design of steel tension members. This failure mechanism combines a tensile failure on one plane and a shear failure on a perpendicular plane. It is important for a design equation not only to predict the capacity reliably, but also to predict accurately the failure mode. In this study, we begin with an overview of tension members, their behaviour and design strength which is affected by yielding, fracture or block shear. Different codal provisions in ISO 800: 2007 for tension members have been dealt, with a special focus on block shear and its failure mechanism. Latest specifications on block shear in AISC 2005 and Eurocode 3 have also been explained so as to provide a broader view of the standards being adopted worldwide to check failure of structures by block shear. Recent developments in block shear research have also been discussed, both finite element analysis and experimental programs.

Block shear failure is not just limited to bolted connections and keeping this in mind, research works conducted on block shear in bolted as well as welded steel sections have been presented herein. Finally, a numerical on block shear has been solved using the provisions in IS 800, AISC 2005 and Eurocode 3. The results obtained shows the given section to be safe from block shear failure; with the Eurocode provisions predicting the lowest design strength (though more than the applied reaction), AISC value being the highest and IS 800 values somewhere in the middle range. Based on these findings and studies, a conclusion has been arrived at and presented at the end of the report

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