Using a novel finite element technique, results are obtained regarding the effects of tension on buckle propagation in pipelines. The unique feature of the technique, which is otherwise built within the framework of large-deformation, elastoplastic finite element analysis, is that the steady-state nature of buckle propagation is exploited in the formulation. Parametric studies can be conducted easily, since the computational requirements of the procedure are low compared with those of conventional finite element analysis. In this paper, the technique and its implementation are reviewed briefly. In order to demonstrate the predictive capability of the technique, results for aluminum Al-6061-T6 are compared with experimental data for a wide range of values of the diameter-to-thickness ratio. Calculations are then carried out in order to examine the effects of tension on buckle propagation.NOTATIONB boundary subjected to (external) pressured p equivalent uniaxial plastic strainD outside pipe diameterE modulus of elasticityK stiffness matrixL length of transition regionN matrix of shape functionsp p propagation pressure in a pipeline under zero axial forcep p t propagation pressure in a pipeline under tensionY von Mises stressY m a x von Mises yield stressY m a x , 0 initial von Mises yield stressΔP incremental load vectorΔp pressure incrementR outside pipe radiust pipe thicknessT axial forceT 0 axial yield forceΔU incremental displacement vectorΔV increment of volume nominal strainσ nominal stressσ y parameter of Ramberg-Osgood stress-strain equationσ 0 material yield stress