ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses the behaviour and design of steel tension members. Concentrically loaded uniform tension members are perhaps the simplest structural elements, as they are nominally in a state of uniform axial stress. The presence of small local holes in a tension member causes early yielding around the holes, so that the load–deflection behaviour becomes non-linear. In many practical tension members with more than one row of holes, the reduction in the cross-sectional area may be reduced by staggering the rows of holes. Stress concentrations in tension members occur at holes in the member, and where there are changes or very local reductions in cross-section, and at points where concentrated forces act. Simple design procedures are available which enable the bending actions in some members with eccentric connections to be ignored, but more generally special account must be taken of bending action in design. The chapter also discusses the design of tension members with eccentric or transverse loads.
