Unit 2: Design of Large Span

Structures
(Cable Structures – Loading and
Sag Calculation)

Structural System and Design - V

 Contents
• Loading in Cables
• Geometrical shapes in Cables
• Sag calculation in cables structures
• Examples
 Cables
• They use high-strength steel
• Need for cables
❑ towers
❑ anchors
❑ stiffeners (hangers)
• Have spans and sag
• They cannot take movement from dynamic
effects of wind and resonance.
Geometric funicular line

- Catenary - Triangle

- Parabola -
Trapezoid

- Polygon
- Ellipse
 Geometric funicular line
• The deformation of a
cable under its loads takes
the shape of a funicular
curve that is produced by
only axial forces since a
cable has negligible
bending strength:
polygonal and curved
shapes (e.g. catenary
shapes, parabolic shapes,
circular shapes)
Funicular tension line
 Funicular shapes in Cables
• The simple, flexible, suspended cable takes different shapes under different
loading conditions; in other words, the cable shape and length are a function
of loading and state of stress:
• Polygonal shapes is a function of concentrated loads.
• Curved shape is a function of uniform loads, a situation most typical in
suspended roof structures.
• Curved shape is a function of constant uniform load and occurs mostly in
suspension bridges where the suspended cables carry the roadway.
• Catenary shape is a function of uniform load along the cable length (e.g. self
weight) for small sag-to-span ratios of n<1:10.
• Cubic parabolic shape is a function of uniformly distributed , tapered,
transverse loads along the cable’s horizontal base, such as triangular, or
trapezoidal-shaped load. These situations normally occurs where cables are
arranged in a radial fashion, such as in a typical circular suspension roof.
 Cables
• Equilibrium
❑ not enough to solve, we have slopes.
❑ x- component is the same everywhere.
 Loading in Cables
• In order to understand the mechanism by means of
which a cable supports vertical loads, one may
first consider a cable suspended between two fixed
points, located at the same level and carrying a
single load at mid span.
• Under the action of the load the cable assumes a
symmetrical triangular shape and half the load is
carried to each support by simple tension along the
two halves of the cable.
 Loading in Cables
• Straight line between forces
 Loading in Cables
• Shape directly related to the distributed load
 Loading in Cables
• Triangular:
• Tx = T cos ϴ
• Ty = T sin ϴ
• Parabolic (catenary) –
distributed uniform load
• y = 4h (Lx – x2)/ L2
• Ltotal = L (1 + (8/3)h2/L2 –
(32/5)h4/L4)
Loading in Cables
Loading in Cables
Loading in Cables
 SAG in Cables
• The triangular shape acquired by cable is called sag.
• SAG is the vertical distance between supports and lowest
point in the cable.
• Without SAG, cable cannot carry a load.
 Calculation of SAG in Cable Structures
• The triangular shape acquired by the cable is characterized by the SAG.
• The vertical distance between the supports and the lowest point in the
cable. Without the sag the cable cannot carry the load, since the tensile
forces in it would be horizontal and horizontal forces cannot balance
the vertical load.
• The undivided pull of the sagging cable on each support may be split
into two components:
➢ A downward force equal to half the load
➢ A horizontal inward pull or thrust
• The thrust is inversely proportional to the sag; halving the sag doubles
the thrust.
Calculation of SAG in Cable Structures
 Calculation of SAG in Cable Structures
• T = Horizontal Component of
Tension (kN)
• T = Maximum tension in the Cable
(kN)
• x, y = wire location in xy
coordinates, (0,0) is the lowest point
• S = Maximum sag (m)
• T.y = w.x * x/2
• L = Span length (m)
• y= wx2/2T, when y = S and x = L/2
• w = weight per unit length of the
• S= wL2/8T
Cable
• D = L {1 + (8S2/3L2)}
• D = Cable length (m)
 Optimal SAG
• A large sag increases the cable length, but reduces the
tensile force and allows a reduction of cross-section. A
similar sag requires a larger cross-section.
• Hence the total volume of cable (product of cross-
section and length), must be minimum for some optimal
value of sag.
• Optimal sag equal half the span for a given horizontal
distance and corresponds to a symmetrical 45° triangle
cable configuration with thrust = p/2
 Cables and Tension Elements
• Typical cross sections
 Cables Structures
• Categories
❑ Single
drape
❑ Double
✓Different
curvature
✓Same plane
or different
 Solved Examples
1. A cable subjected to a uniform load of 240 N/m is suspended between two
supports at the same level 20 m apart. If the cable has a central sag of 4m,
determine the horizontal reactions at the supports, the minimum and
maximum tension in the cable, and the total length of the cable.
 Solved Examples

Solution :
When x = L/2, S = 4m
Ʃ Mx = wL2/8 = 240 (20)2/8 = 12000 N-m
Ʃ MB = wL2/2 = 240 (20)2/2 = 48000 N-m
Horizontal reaction at A, Ax (4) = 48000 -12000 = 9000 N = Bx
Minimum and Maximum Tension
wx (x/2) – T0 *S = 0
T0 = wx2/2S
 Solved Examples
Minimum and maximum tension
Ʃ MC = wx(x/2) – T0.S = 0
Therefore, T0 = wx2/2S = 240(10)2/2(4) = 3000N

Tmax = [ 𝑇0 2 + 𝑤𝑥 2] = [ 3000 2 + 240𝑥10 2] = 3841.87 𝑁

Total length of cable:
D = (2) (10) [ 1 + 2/3(4/10)2 – 2/5 (4/10)4] = 21.93 m
 Solved Examples
2. A cable supports two concentrated loads at B and C, as shown in the Figure.
Determine the sag at B, the tension in the cable, and the length of the cable.
 Solved Examples

Support reactions:
ƩMA = 0 (anticlockwise)
-100(2) – 80(10) + 13Dy = 0
Dy = 76.92 kN
 Solved Examples
Support reactions:
ƩFy = 0 (upwards)
Ay + 76.92 – 100 – 80 = 0
Ay = 103.08 kN
ƩMC = 0 (anticlockwise)
-Ax(10) + 100(8) = 0
Ax = 80 kN
ƩFx = 0 (right)
-Dx + 80 = 0
Dx = 80 kN
 Solved Examples
Sag at B: The sag at point B of the cable is determined by taking the moment
about B.
ƩMB = 0 (anticlockwise)
- Ay (2) + Ax (yB) = 0
yB = Ay (2)/Ax = 103.08(2)/80 = 2.58 m
 Solved Examples
Tension at A and D:

TA = TAB = 𝐴𝑦 + 𝐴𝑥 2 = 103.08 2 + 80 2 = 130.48 kN

2

TD = TDC = 𝐷𝑦 2 + 𝐷𝑥 2 = 76.92 2 + 80 2 = 110.98 kN

 Solved Examples
Tension is segment CB:
ƩFx = 0
TCD cos73.3° - TCB cos42.8° = 0
TCB = TCD cos73.3° / cos42.8° = 110.98 cos73.3° / cos42.8°
= 43.46 kN
 Solved Examples
Length of cable:
The length of cable is determined as the algebraic sum of the lengths of the
segments. The lengths of the segments can be obtained by the application of the
Pythagoras theorem

L = [ 2.58 2 + 2 2 + [ 10 − 2.58 2 + 8 2] + 10 2 + 3 2

= 24.62𝑚