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Lesson 2
By. Mr. Kimarai Joel
ECE 2214: THEORY OF STRUCTURES II
CHAPTER II:
ANALYSIS OF CABLES AND ARCHES STRUCTURES
Introduction
The objectives of this chapter are:
❖ Study the characteristics, types, and behavior of cable and arch structures.
❖ Analyze determinate cable structures and calculate support reactions by two
methods, namely by equations of static equilibrium and by the general cable
theorem, as well as determine the cable forces at specific points along its
length.
❖ Analyze determinate three-hinged arches and trussed arches.
❖ Use the general cable theorem to establish a funicular shape of an arch for
which forces are in direct compression along the arch, resulting in an efficient
minimum-weight arch design.
Analysis of Cables
Cables constructed of high-strength steel wires are completely flexible and have a
tensile strength four or five times greater than that of structural steel. Because of
their great strength-to-weight ratio, designers use cables to construct long-span
structures, including suspension bridges and roofs over large arenas and convention
halls. To use cable construction effectively, the designer must deal with two
problems:
• Preventing large displacements and oscillations from developing in cables
that carry live loads whose magnitude or direction changes with time.
• Providing an efficient means of anchoring the large tensile force carried by
cables.
To take advantage of the cable’s high strength while minimizing its negative features,
designers must use greater inventiveness and imagination than are required in
conventional beam and column structures.
Cables are used to support suspension roofs, bridges, and trolley wheels, guys for
radio antennas, electrical transmission lines, and derricks. They are determinate
structures but depend on the number and type of loads subjected to them; defining
the type and number of unknowns available for identification. Cables carry applied
loads and develop mostly tensile stresses; loads are applied through the hangers.
Cables near end supporting structures experience bending moments and shear
forces.
The weight of the cable itself may be neglected or ignored depending on the
magnitude of the applied forces – the weight of the cable itself may be neglected
unless it is used for radio antennas, electrical transmission lines, and derricks
The cable can be subjected to concentrated loads or distributed loads. It is
assumed that the cable is perfectly flexible and inextensible. Thus, the cable offers
no resistance to shear or bending moment. Therefore, the force acting in the cable is
always tangential to the cable at points along its length.
Assumptions made in Analysis
❖ Cables are flexible and inextensible; hence does not resist bending moments
and shear force.
❖ Self-weight is neglected when external loads act on the cable.
❖ Since only axial tensile forces are carried by the cable, the force in the cable
is tangential to the cable profile.
❖ Since its inextensible, the length of the cable is always constant, assumed to
be a rigid body during analysis.
NB: Cables can either be subjected to concentrated or distributed loads, and their
behavior is different with reference to overcoming the effects of the external loads.
A. Cables Subjected to Concentrated Loads
With concentrated loads, the cable takes the form of several straight-line segments,
referred to as funicular polygons, which are subject to constant tensile force. The
known cable geometry thus helps in identifying the unknowns for analysis.
Example:

From this cable structure subjected to concentrated loads P1 and P2 at C and D

respectively, there are:
 ❖ 4 Unknowns –Reactions at A and B – Fx and Fy.
❖ 3 Tension forces – at AC, CD, and DB.
❖ 2 Vertical direction sags – at C and D – Yc and Yd.
Hence, the total number of unknowns is 9. All these have to be determined while
treating this cable structure as an inextensible structure where the lengths AC, CD,
and DB will not change under influence of external loads acting on points C and D,
and the supports provided at A and B.
Approach/Procedure
❖ Draw a FREE BODY DIAGRAM from the original cable section, including the
loads it has been subjected to, the unknowns to identify, and the state of
equilibriums.
❖ Solution for the unknown reactions at the point of support using the equation
of equilibrium.
❖ Identifying the respective heights that the sag, depending on the strength of
the applied concentrated load would cause.
❖ Determining the tension along the different sections of the cable, depending
on the subjective loads and the immediate support or joint.
❖ Determine the total length of the cable.
Solved Example 1:
The cable shown below is pinned to supports A and B and carries a concentrated
load of 10 KN at point C. Calculate the tension in each part of the cable and the
reactions at the points of support.

➢ Since the cable is weightless, the lengths of AC and BC are straight. The
tensions between TAC and TCB in the parts AC and CB may be found by
considering the equilibrium of the forces acting at C and calculating the
angular projections followed by the tensions.
Then Follow the equations of equilibrium and handle each joint (AC) and (BC) to
analyze the structure as follows:
i. The sum of Vertical forces = 0 (RAV +RBV + 10 = 0… and RAV & RBV
existing in ratios reflected by their horizontal layout from C)
ii. Sum of horizontal forces = 0 (with RAH = RBH)
iii. Employ angular projections to determine tensions on AC and CB which will be
equal to RA and RB respectively.

Example 2:
A cable supports three concentrated loads at B, C, and D. Determine the sag at B
and D, as well as the tension in each segment of the cable. Calculate the total length
of the cable from A to E.
Equations of equilibrium for the whole cable structure; are then followed by the
equilibrium of each joint (from support to node, or two successive nodes).

The sag at B is determined by summing the moment about B, as shown in the free-
body diagram indicated as c, while the sag at D was computed by summing the
moment about D, following a section of the successive load application in the cable.
Sag B:
Sag at D:

Tensions along the cable lengths.

Tension at A:

Tension at E:

Tension at B:
Tension at C:

Tension at D:
 Practice Questions:
For each of the cable structures subjected to concentrated loads, determine the
following:
❖ Reactions at the supports.
❖ Heights/sags at C and B
❖ Tension in each of the parts AC, CD, and DB.

❖ The total length of the cable section