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Module 2 - Cables

1) Cables are flexible structures that carry loads in tension and are used in long-span bridges and building roofs. 2) When analyzing cables, the cable's weight can usually be neglected except for cases like radio antennas where the cable weight is significant. Cables can be analyzed under concentrated or uniform loads. 3) To analyze a cable under concentrated loads, the reaction forces and unknown heights must first be determined before calculating tensions in each cable segment. Uniformly loaded cables form parabolic shapes and their tensions can be calculated using the cable's sag and distributed load value.

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Kimkate Geronimo
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47 views

Module 2 - Cables

1) Cables are flexible structures that carry loads in tension and are used in long-span bridges and building roofs. 2) When analyzing cables, the cable's weight can usually be neglected except for cases like radio antennas where the cable weight is significant. Cables can be analyzed under concentrated or uniform loads. 3) To analyze a cable under concentrated loads, the reaction forces and unknown heights must first be determined before calculating tensions in each cable segment. Uniformly loaded cables form parabolic shapes and their tensions can be calculated using the cable's sag and distributed load value.

Uploaded by

Kimkate Geronimo
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Cables

Cables, flexible material that carries their load in tension, are used in constructing long-span
structures including suspension bridges and roofs over large buildings.
In the force analysis of cables, the cable’s weight may be neglected; however, when cables are used
for radio antennas, electrical transmission lines, and others, the weight of the cable may become
important and must be included in the analysis of the structure. Two cases will be considered in
these sections: a cable subjected to concentrated loads and a cable subjected to a uniform load.
The cable is assumed as perfectly flexible and inextensible when deriving necessary associations
between the cable and its slope. Cables does not have resistance to bending and shear, therefore,
the force that acts in the cable is always tangent to the cable at points along its length. When the
loads are applied, the cable remains fixed and it can be treated as a rigid body. [1]

I. Cables Subjected to Concentrated Loads


Consider a cable attached to two poles, one at each end. Three concentrated loads are hanging
from the cable. The cable sags under the applied loads; it forms a stable shape in which the
conditions of static equilibrium are sustained. Assuming the horizontal distances between the
loads and the support points are known, we can describe the shape of the cable using four
heights. These heights are labeled h1 through h4 in the figure.

A cable subjected in concentrated loads requires calculation of the following:


1. The reaction forces at A and E.
2. The tension force in each interior segment of the cable.
3. The unknown heights, if there are any.
To analyze the cable in the figure (or any cable subjected to concentrated loads), we should first
determine the reaction forces and the unknown heights before we determine the forces in the
cable.

Example 2.6
Consider a weightless cable spanning a distance of 10 meters between two poles. Attached to
the cable are two traffic lights. The traffic lights cause the cable to settle, forming three straight
segments. Each traffic light weighs 400 Newtons. Determine the tension forces in the cable.
Solution:
Because the cable system is symmetrical, we know that the tension force in segment CD is equal
to the tension force in segment AB. Therefore, we know that the tension force in segment CD is

equal to
Example 2.7
Suppose the right traffic light is positioned 1.8 meters from the right pole, which makes the
loading on the cable unsymmetrical. What are the tension forces in the cable?

FBD of Cable:
For Tbc:
II. Cables Subjected to Distributed Loads

Considering the pedestrian bridge shown in the figure, two main cables hang the
deck of the bridge freely using series of vertical hangers. Our main goal is to determine
the maximum tension force in the main cables and the forces of reaction acting at the
posts.

The cable above is under a uniform load of 200 N/m. The posts at the two ends of each main
cable are assumed to be pin connected.
Free Body Diagram

Note the position of the coordinate system. Cutting the cable at its center:
Using the equation:
An unsymmetrical parabolic cable 150 m distant
horizontally from supports A and B supports a
uniform distributed load of 75 kN/m. The
maximum sag of the cable is 9 m below A and 4 m
below B.

Determine the following:

a) tension at the lowest point

b) tensions at the supports

We can acquire an equation for tension force in the cable at its lowest point by cutting the cable at point
C, drawing the free-body diagram for the left & right segment of the cable, and writing the moment
equilibrium equation about point A & point B as depicted below.

FBD for the left segment of the system of cables with unsymmetrical loading.

M A 0
x
9TC  75 x 0
2

x2
TC  75  EQ.1
18

FBD for the right segment of the system of cables with unsymmetrical loading.

M B 0
150  x
4TC  75(150  x)( )0
2
(150  x) 2
TC  75  EQ.2
8

Equating Equation 1 and 2 gives us:

TC  TC
x2 (150  x) 2 (150  x) 2 9 (150  x)
75  75  x2  9  x2  (150  x) 2  x  3  2 x  450  3x
18 8 4 4 2
Ans : x  90m

Substituting the value of x in Eq.1 or Eq.2 will give us Tc as shown below:

Tension at the lowest point

Then the tension forces at the supports can be expressed mathematically using the Pythagorean
theorem.

Tension at the supports

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