Design Parameters Page 1 of 5

COMPUTERS AND STRUCTURES, INC., JANUARY 2011

TUBULAR STEEL FRAME PUNCHING LOAD CHECK
TECHNICAL NOTE
NORSOK N-004-2004 PUNCHING LOAD CHECK
This Technical Note describes the methodology used for the punching load
check when the steel design code is set to Norsok N-004-2004. Note that the
steel design code is specified in the steel design preferences. The preferences
are accessed using the Design menu > Steel Frame Design >
View/Revise Preferences command.
The design check is based on criteria published in Sections 6.4.1 and 6.4.3.6
of the Norwegian Oil Industry Association (OLF) and Federation of Norwegian
Manufacturing Industries (TBL).
Design Parameters
Joint Geometric Parameters
Figure 1 illustrates some of the geometric parameters used in the punching
load check. They are as follows:
= Angle measured from the chord to the brace.
g = Gap distance.
t = Brace thickness.
T = Chord thickness or thickness of tubular sections.
d = Brace diameter.
D = Outer Chord diameter or diameter of tubular sections.
In addition, four more geometric parameters are derived from those shown in
Figure 1. They are as follows:
t
T
t =
d
D
| =
2
D
T
= , =
g
D


Tubular Steel Frame Punching Load Check Norsok N-004-2004 Punching Load Check
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 fy.
Overview of Punching Load Check
The program performs the punching load check based on the requirements for
simple joints presented in Section 6.4.3 of the Norsok N-004-2004.
Ultimate Capacities
The design axial resistance, NRd, and design bending moment resistance, MRd,
are calculated using Norsok equations 6.52 and 6.53.
2
sin u
=
y
Rd u f
M
f T
N Q Q Norsok Eqn. 6.52
( )
2
0.8
sin u
=
y
Rd u f
M
f T
M Q Q d Norsok Eqn. 6.53
Equation 6.53 is used for both in-plane and out-of-plane bending. In
Equations 6.52 and 6.53, Qu is determined from Norsok N-004-2004 Table 6-
Tubular Steel Frame Punching Load Check Norsok N-004-2004 Punching Load Check
Ultimate Capacities Page 3 of 5
3 and Qf is calculated as described in the following subsection. Note that it is
also possible for the user to directly specify values for Qu and Qf.
Calculation of Qu
The Qu varies with the joint and action type as given below.
Table 1: Values for Qu
Joint
Classification Axial Tension
Axial
Compression
In-
Plane
Bending
Out-of-
Plane
Bending
K
( )
0.5
1.9 19
|
| +
g
Q Q ( )
0.5
1.9 19
|
| +
g
Q Q
0.5
4.5|
2
0.5
3.2
|

Y
30|
( )
0.5
1.9 19
|
| + Q
0.5
4.5|
2
0.5
3.2
|

X 23| for 0.9 | s
( )( ) 21 0.9 17 220 | +
for 0.9 | >
( ) 2.8 14
|
| + Q
0.5
4.5|
2
0.5
3.2
|

The following notes apply to Table 1:
(a) Q
|
is a geometric factor defined by:
( )
0.3
Q
1 0.833
|
| |
=

for 0.6, | >

Q 1.0
|
= for 0.6. | s
(b) Q
g
is a gap factor defined by:
0.5
Q 1 1.0
| |
= >
|
\ .
g
g
D
for 2.0, >
g
T

0.5
Q 0.13 0.65| = +
g
for 2.0, s
g
T

where,
,
,
| =
y b
y c
tf
Tf
for 2.0, s
g
T

, y b
f = yield strength of brace (or brace stub if present),
Tubular Steel Frame Punching Load Check Norsok N-004-2004 Punching Load Check
Ultimate Capacities Page 4 of 5
, y c
f = yield strength of chord (or chord can if present),
g
Q = linear interpolated value between the limiting values for 2.0 2.0. s s
g
T


Calculation of Qf
The Qf value used in Equation 6.52 and 6.53 is calculated as follows.
2
1.0 =
f
Q A Norsok Eqn. 6.54
where,
= 0.030 for brace axial stress.
= 0.045 for in-plane bending stress.
= 0.021 for out-of-plane bending stress.
and,
2
2 2
, , ,
1 2 2
1.62
o o o
| | | | +
= +
| |
| |
\ . \ .
my Sd mz Sd a Sd
y y
A C C
f f
Norsok Eqn. 6.55
where,
, a Sd
o = design axial stress in chord.
, my Sd
o = design in-plane bending stress in chord.
, mz Sd
o = design out-of-plane bending stress in chord.
y
f = yield strength.
1 2
, C C = coefficients depending on joint and load type as given in Norsok
N-004-2004 Table 6-4.




Tubular Steel Frame Punching Load Check Norsok N-004-2004 Punching Load Check
Joint Check Ratios Page 5 of 5
Table 2: Values for C1 and C2
Joint Type C1 C2
T/Y under brace axial loading 25 11
X joints under brace axial loading 20 22
K joints under balanced axial loading 20 22
All joints under brace moment loading 25 30

Joint Check Ratios
Joint check ratios are calculated based on Norsok equation 6.57. The following
ratio is checked.
2
, ,
, ,
Ratio 1.0
y Sd z Sd
Sd
Rd y Rd z Rd
M M
N D
C N M M
| |
= + + s
|
|
\ .
Norsok Eqn. 6.57
where,
NSd = The design axial load in the brace member.
My,Sd = The design in-plane bending moment in the brace member.
Mz,Sd = The design out-of-plane bending moment in the brace member.

Overlapping Joints
Braces that overlap in-plane or out-of-plane at the chord member form
overlap joints.
The overlap requirements of section 6.4.4 are currently not checked by the
program.
References
Norsok Standard N-004 (Norsok). Design of Steel Structures; Rev. 2. October
2004.