Analysis and Design of Struts with Tension Ties

A general solution is obtained for determining the buckling load of struts with tension ties. The ties, extending in length from one to the other end of the strut and bearing on several intermediate points along the column through hogging frames, are pretensioned. The tension ties precompress the column and at the same time furnish elastic supports to the column. Under the applied load, relationships between forces acting in the ties and the column and those between the lateral displacement and the reactions exerted by the ties were first developed. Then the general equation for buckling was derived and its application was shown by an example. A few models of a strut with tension ties were tested and the test results agree reasonably well with the analytical solution. Formulas were also derived for determining the initial tension and cross-sectional area of the ties in order to obtain maximum strength of a strut.