Volume Two of "The Racing Motorcycle, A Technical Guide for Constructors" by John Bradley has excellent chapters on the selection and use of various materials in both bar, sheet and tube form. Lots of interesting information on fabrication techniques, stiffness, strength and fatigue too. Obviously the emphasis is on motorcycle construction but that doesn't alter the validity of the information.  Out of print now but well worth reading if you, or the library, can find copy.

Besides the materials themselves John also provides some useful discussion as to the logic behind the engineering selection of different material selections and useful discussion on supply issues as of 2003. The supply discussion is bit dated now but still something that needs to be considered.

As has been discussed on another thread a major issue these days is being sure that the material you get is exactly what you are expecting. The old EN designations have long been obsolete as manufacturers specifications so anything you buy as EN XX steel will be a suppliers judgement as to a suitable alternative to a modern specification. Which can vary leading to unpleasant surprises. About 4 years back I bought over 100 ft round steel bar in 3 different sizes allegedly supplied to the same EN number. When putting tool to metal there are clearly at least 4 different varieties of steel in there, randomly distributed between sizes. This mattered little for my purposes in that case but it could be an unpleasant shock to the unwary expecting the new bit of EN XX steel to behave just like the old one.

Clive

Edited By Clive Foster on 01/01/2018 10:10:41