Design Parameters Page 1 of 5

COMPUTERS AND STRUCTURES, INC., BERKELEY, CALIFORNIA FEBRUARY 2003

TUBULAR STEEL FRAME PUNCHING LOAD CHECK
Technical Note
WSD2000 Check Nominal Load Method
This Technical Note describes the methodology used for the punching load
check when the steel design code is set to API RP2A-WSD2000 and the
nominal load method is specified to be used to calculate the punching load
stresses. Note that both the steel design code and the punching load method,
which can be punching shear or nominal load for the API RP2A-WSD2000
design code, are specified in the steel design preferences. The preferences
are accessed using the Options > Preferences >Steel Frame Design
command.
The design check is based on criteria published in Sections 4.3.1 and 4.3.2 of
the American Petroleum Institute 2000 reference.
Design Parameters
Joint Geometric Parameters
Figure 1 illustrates some of the geometric parameters used in the punching
load check. They are:
= Angle measured from the chord to the brace.
g = Gap distance.
t = Brace thickness.
T = Chord thickness.
d = Brace diameter.
D = Chord diameter.
In addition, three more geometric parameters are derived from those shown
in Figure 1. They are as follows:
T
t
=
D
d
=
2T
D
=
SAP2000

SAP2000

SAP2000

Tubular Steel Frame Punching Load Check WSD2000 Check Nominal Load Method
Overview of Punching Load Check Page 2 of 5
T
D
g
d
t

Chord
Brace
Brace
Figure 1: Joint Geometric Parameters
Chord Yield Strength
The chord yield strength is designated F
yc
. It is taken as the smaller of the
yield strength, F
y
, of the considered chord member and two-thirds of the
tensile strength, F
u
, of the chord member.
Overview of Punching Load Check
The program performs the punching load check based on the requirements for
simple joints presented in Section 4.3.1 of the American Petroleum Institute
2000 reference. In addition, if the joint classification associated with the
considered brace is specified as K Overlap, the punching load check also
considers the equations present in Section 4.3.2 of the reference.
Allowable Loads
The allowable axial load, P
a
, and allowable bending load, M
a
, are calculated
using API equations 4.3.1-4a and 4.3.1-4b. The one-third allowable stress
increase is included for P
a
and M
a
where applicable.
sin 1.7
T F
Q Q P
2
yc
f u a
= Eqn. 1
Tubular Steel Frame Punching Load Check WSD2000 Check Nominal Load Method
Simple Joint Check Ratios Page 3 of 5
( ) 0.8d
sin 1.7
T F
Q Q M
2
yc
f u a
= Eqn. 2
Equation 2 is used for both in-plane and out-of-plane bending. In Equations 1
and 2, Q
u
is determined from API Table 4.3.1-2 and Q
f
is calculated as
described in the following subsection. Note that it is also possible for the user
to directly specify values for Q
u
and Q
f
.
Calculation of Q
f
The Q
f
value used in Equation 2 is calculated as follows.
2
f
A 1.0 Q = Eqn. 3
where,
= 0.030 for brace axial stress.
= 0.045 for in-plane bending stress.
= 0.021 for out-of-plane bending stress.
and,
yc
2
OPB
2
IPB
2
AX
0.6F
f f f
A
+ +
= Eqn. 4
The one-third allowable stress increase is included in the denominator of
Equation 4 where applicable. In Equation 4, the terms
AX
f ,
IPB
f and
OPB
f are
the nominal axial, in-plane bending and out-of-plane bending stresses in the
chord.
Q
f
is set to 1.0 when all extreme fiber stresses in the chord are tensile. The
program considers this condition to be met when the axial stress in the chord
is tensile and 0 f f f
OPB IPB AX
.
Simple Joint Check Ratios
The two ratios given in API equations 4.3.1-5a and 4.3.1-5b are calculated for
all joints.
Tubular Steel Frame Punching Load Check WSD2000 Check Nominal Load Method
Overlapping Joints Page 4 of 5
0 . 1
M
M
M
M
Ratio1
2
OPB
a
2
IPB
a

= Eqn. 5
1.0
M
M
M
M
arcsin

2
P
P
Ratio2
2
OPB
a
2
IPB
a
AX
a

+ = Eqn. 6
In Equation 6, the arcsin term is in radians. In Equations 5 and 6, AX means
axial load, IPB means in-plane-bending, and OPB means out-of-plane
bending.
Overlapping Joints
For braces that are assigned a K Overlap joint classification, the additional
check described in this section is performed. The axial load component of the
brace perpendicular to the chord, P , is first calculated.
Psin P = Eqn. 7
where P is the axial load in the brace.
The allowable axial load component of the brace perpendicular to the chord,
a
P , is calculated using API equation 4.3.2-2.
2 w wa
1
a a
l t v 2
l
l
sin P P + = Eqn. 8
where,
v
wa
= Allowable shear stress for weld between braces.
t
w
= The lesser of the weld throat thickness and the thickness of the
thinner brace.
l = Circumference of brace contact with the chord, neglecting the
presence of the overlap.
l
1
= Circumference for that portion of the brace that contacts the chord.
l
2
= Projected chord length (one side) of the overlapping weld measured
perpendicular to the chord.
Tubular Steel Frame Punching Load Check WSD2000 Check Nominal Load Method
References Page 5 of 5
The ratio for overlapping joints is calculated using Equation 9.
a
P
P
Ratio3

= Eqn. 9
References
American Petroleum Institute (API). 2000. Recommended Practice for
Planning, Designing, and Constructing Fixed Offshore Platforms
Working Stress Design; API Recommended Practice 2A-WSD (RP 2A-
WSD). Twenty-First Edition. December.