slenderness of a tension member
 

slenderness of a tension member
the effective length factor, k, does not apply to the slenderness ratio recommendation for tension members. see aisc specification section b7. in other words, use k=1 for all cases in tension.
yes,
and additionally: aisc does not mandate the limit on the slenderness ratio, but rather recommends a limit. they use the word "preferably".
agree in determining the slenderness on actual length for members in tension, or take k=1.
... and the preferably is preferable, will the member some day enter in -even marginal- compression?. i think they degraded it to preferably because otherwise the cable or tensors practice would become too much in evidence.