TABLE OF CONTENTS An axial force member has the load applied parallel to the longitudinal axis through the centroid of the cross section. The axial force may be either tension or compression. Because of the need to carry vertical gravity loads down through the structure into the foundation, columns are more often encountered than tension members. Both types of members, however, see widespread use in structural design in such items as trusses and diaphragms.
In addition to the design of axial force members, this chapter covers the design of members with a more complicated loading condition. These include members with bending (beam action) occurring simultaneously with axial forces (tension or compression). This type of member is often referred to as a combined stress member. A combination of loadings is definitely more critical than the case of the same forces being applied individually. The case of compression combined with bending is probably encountered more often than tension plus bending, but both types of members are found in typical wood-frame buildings.
To summarize, the design of the following types of members is covered in this chapter:
Axial tension
Axial compression
Combined bending and tension
Combined bending and compression
The design of axial force tension members is relatively straightforward, and the required size of a member can be solved for directly. For the other three types of members, however, a trial-and-error solution is the typical design approach. Trial-and-error solutions may seem awkward in the beginning. However, with a...
