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Analysis of Cables

Cables are often used in engineering structures to transmit loads between members. Cables can support neither bending nor compression and so carry loads solely in tension. Because cables are flexible, their shape changes with applied loads. This lecture discusses analyzing cables subjected to uniform and point loads. For a uniformly loaded cable with supports at the same level, the tension required at the supports can be calculated from the cable's weight, span, and depth at the center point. Cables supporting point loads take the form of straight segments, with each segment under constant tension that can be determined using force equilibrium equations at the load and support points.

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493 views

Analysis of Cables

Cables are often used in engineering structures to transmit loads between members. Cables can support neither bending nor compression and so carry loads solely in tension. Because cables are flexible, their shape changes with applied loads. This lecture discusses analyzing cables subjected to uniform and point loads. For a uniformly loaded cable with supports at the same level, the tension required at the supports can be calculated from the cable's weight, span, and depth at the center point. Cables supporting point loads take the form of straight segments, with each segment under constant tension that can be determined using force equilibrium equations at the load and support points.

Uploaded by

ablarence
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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5 LECTURE 5: ANALYSIS OF CABLES

5.1 Introduction
Cables are often used in engineering structures for support and to transmit loads from one member
to another. When used to support suspension roofs, bridges, and trolley wheels, cables form the
main load-carrying element in the structure. In the force analysis of such systems, the weight of
the cable itself may be neglected. Two cases will be considered in the sections that follow: a cable
subjected to concentrated loads and a cable subjected to a distributed load. Provided these loadings
are coplanar with the cable, the requirements for equilibrium are formulated in an identical manner.
We will make the assumption that the cable is perfectly flexible and inextensible.

The structural behaviour of a cable is governed by two important characteristics

 since it can support neither bending nor compression, a cable carries loads solely in tension
 because it is flexible, the shape taken up by the cable will vary with the loading applied to
it

Figure 5-1 (a) Suspension Cable Bridge

5.2 Cables Subjected to Uniformly Distributed Load – Supports at the Same level
A case of a uniformly loaded cable will be such that the cable supports its own weight. When a
cable is supporting a series of hangers which are closely spaced, the cable can be assumed to be
uniformly loaded.

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5.2.1 Example 1
A cable with supports at the same level weighs 6 / in plan. If the depth of the centre is 25 m
and the span is 100 m, determine the tension that must be applied at the support (anchorage)

Solution

50
= 0; = =

V = 0; V + V − (6 × 100) = 0

100
M = 0; V × 100 − 600 =0
2

V = 300

V = 300 kN

50
M = 0; H × 25 − 6 × 50 =0
2

7500
H= = 300 = =
25

Tension at supports will be

6 × 100 100
= 1+ = 1+ = 424.264
2 16ℎ 2 16 × 25

5.3 Cables Subjected to Point Loads


When a cable of negligible weight supports several concentrated loads, the cable takes the form of
several straight-line segments, each of which is subjected to a constant tensile force.

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Consider, for example, the cable shown in the figure above. Here θ specifies the angle of the
cable’s chord AB, and L is the cable’s span. If the distances L1, L2 and L3 and the loads P1 and P2
are known, then the problem is to determine the unknowns consisting of the tension in each of the
three segments, the four components of reaction at A and B, and the sags yC and yD at the two
points C and D. For the solution we can write two equations of force equilibrium at each of points
A, B, C, and D.

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