Shear Lag in Bolted Angle Tension Members

Steel angles acting in tension can be used singly or in pairs. In either case, it is not usually possible to connect both legs. This means that the effectiveness of the member must reflect the shear lag that is present in such an arrangement. This study reports on the experimental testing of 24 single and double angle tension members that use bolted end connections. This experimental work is supplemented by that of others and by an analytical investigation. Design recommendations are made that differ in some significant ways from design rules currently used.