186 CHAPTER 5 CABLES AND ARCHES

EXAMPLE 5.2

The cable in Fig. 5–5a supports a girder which weighs 850 lb>ft.
Determine the tension in the cable at points A, B, and C.

A y
100 ft
A
40 ft C

40 ft C 20 ft
B
x
20 ft
B

100 ft ! x¿ x¿

5 (a) (b)

Fig. 5–5

SOLUTION
The origin of the coordinate axes is established at point B, the lowest
point on the cable, where the slope is zero, Fig. 5–5b. From Eq. 5–7, the
parabolic equation for the cable is:

w0 2 850 lb>ft 2 425 2

y = x = x = x (1)
2FH 2FH FH

Assuming point C is located x¿ from B, we have

425 œ2
20 = x
FH
FH = 21.25xœ2 (2)

Also, for point A,

425
40 = [ -1100 - x¿2]2
FH
425
40 = [-1100 - x¿2]2
21.25xœ2
xœ2 + 200x¿ - 10 000 = 0
x¿ = 41.42 ft
 5.3 CABLE SUBJECTED TO A UNIFORM DISTRIBUTED LOAD 187

Thus, from Eqs. 2 and 1 (or Eq. 5–6) we have

FH = 21.25141.4222 = 36 459.2 lb
dy 850
= x = 0.02331x (3)
dx 36 459.2

At point A,

x = - 1100 - 41.422 = - 58.58 ft

dy
tan uA = ` = 0.023311- 58.582 = - 1.366
dx x = -58.58

uA = - 53.79°
5
Using Eq. 5–4,

FH 36 459.2
TA = = = 61.7 k Ans.
cos uA cos1 -53.79°2

At point B, x = 0,

dy
tan uB = ` = 0, uB = 0°
dx x = 0
FH 36 459.2
TB = = = 36.5 k Ans.
cos uB cos 0°

At point C,

x = 41.42 ft
dy
tan uC = ` = 0.02331141.422 = 0.9657
dx x = 41.42

uC = 44.0°

FH 36 459.2
TC = = = 50.7 k Ans.
cos uC cos 44.0°
 188 CHAPTER 5 CABLES AND ARCHES

EXAMPLE 5.3
The suspension bridge in Fig. 5–6a is constructed using the two
stiffening trusses that are pin connected at their ends C and supported
by a pin at A and a rocker at B. Determine the maximum tension in
the cable IH. The cable has a parabolic shape and the bridge is
subjected to the single load of 50 kN.

I H

8m

D E
6m
A B
F G C
50 kN

5
4 @ 3 m " 12 m 4 @ 3 m " 12 m

(a)

Iy Hy

FH FH

Ax
B
9m
Ay 50 kN By
24 m
(b)

Fig. 5–6

SOLUTION
The free-body diagram of the cable-truss system is shown in Fig. 5–6b.
According to Eq. 5–4 1T cos u = FH2, the horizontal component of
cable tension at I and H must be constant, FH. Taking moments about
B, we have
d+ ©MB = 0; - Iy124 m2 - Ay124 m2 + 50 kN19 m2 = 0
Iy + Ay = 18.75
 5.3 CABLE SUBJECTED TO A UNIFORM DISTRIBUTED LOAD 189

Iy

FH

FH
14 m

6m

Ax C Cx
Ay
Cy
12 m
(c)

If only half the suspended structure is considered, Fig. 5–6c, then 5

summing moments about the pin at C, we have

d+ ©MC = 0; FH114 m2 - FH16 m2 - Iy112 m2 - Ay112 m2 = 0

Iy + Ay = 0.667FH

From these two equations,

18.75 = 0.667FH
FH = 28.125 kN

To obtain the maximum tension in the cable, we will use Eq. 5–11, but
first it is necessary to determine the value of an assumed uniform
distributed loading w0 from Eq. 5–8:

2FHh 2128.125 kN218 m2

w0 = 2
= = 3.125 kN>m
L 112 m22

Thus, using Eq. 5–11, we have

Tmax = w0 L21 + 1L>2h22

= 3.125112 m221 + 112 m>218 m222
= 46.9 kN Ans.