In pure tension or pure compression, a square tube should have a higher load capacity than round because there's more metal in the cross sectional area if the diameter and width match. ie 2in square tube has more are than 2in round. Obviously, wall thickness would need to be the same as well.
That's simply sigma = force/area. How is that not right? Are there other forces at play possibly? From my knowledge as that of a mech eng student, round is used primarily because it has the same characteristics regardless of which direction the force is applied ie it's the same on all "sides". A rectangle or square depends on where the force is applied or how the tube is oriented.
Where am I messing up?
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Trey
Current ride: 2001 BMW 540iT soon to be manual swapped.
Former rides: 1979 Trans Am WS6: LT1/T56, Kore 3 C5/6 brakes, BMW 18in rims
00 BMW 540i/6: Suspension, wheels, and ACS bits.
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