wrote in message
...
| On Sat, 18 Dec 2004 19:23:19 GMT, "NSM" wrote:
| For a given weight of material, maximum strength is obtained by
distributing
| it over the greatest cross sectional area possible, up to the point at
which
| it becomes too thin to resist buckling.

| This is only true for bending and compression where buckling is a
| concern. For tension, however, the profile is irrelevant and the
| stress is simply calculated as corss-sectional area / tension.
| Ever see a power line in compression?

But at some point as the tension increases vs. the wall thickness the tube
will neck in on itself.

N