CABLE

SUSPENSION BRIDGE

CABLE STAYED BRIDGE

 Introduction
❑ A cable is a flexible structural component that offers no resistance when
compressed or bent in a curved shape. Technically we can say cable has zero
bending rigidity.
❑ It can only support tensile loading.
❑ Cables are often used in engineering structures to transmit load from one point
to another when used to support suspension roofs, bridges and trolley wheels.
Suspension Bridge
Cable Stayed Bridge
 Assumptions
1. Cable is flexible and in-extensible; hence does not resist any bending moment or
shear force (this is not always true - e.g., fatigue of cables).
2. Self weight of cable is neglected when external loads act on the cable.
3. Cable is subjected to pure axial tension only.
4. Since it is in-extensible, the length is always constant. It is assumed to be a rigid
body during analysis.
5. Even when a moving load is acting on the cable, the load is assumed to be
uniformly distributed over the cable (since the cable profile is not assumed to
change).
 General Cable Theory

General cable theory states that,

“Horizontal component of cable tension
times the sag at any point of the cable
equals the bending moment at the
corresponding point of a simply-supported
beam of the same span and subjected to
the same loads as that of the cable.”

Hy = ΣMAt x distance for the simply-supported

beam
 General Cable Theory
Let us consider the cable AB
which is acted upon by the
vertical loads P1, P2, P3 and P4 at
known locations.
The line AB joining the two
supports is known as the
chord of the cable.

The vertical distance between the chord and the cable at any cross section is
known as the dip.
The cable has a span L and the dip at a distance x from A is y .
 General Cable Theory
For moment equilibrium about
support B for the cable:
Ay L + HL tanα = ΣMBP

ΣMBP
Ay = − H tanα .….(1)
L

ΣMBP is the summation of moments due to external forces about point B.

 General Cable Theory
Since the cable is totally flexible
against bending, bending moment at
any cross-section is zero.

ΣMAt x distance = 0
Ay x + Hz = ΣMxP
Ay x + H (x tanα – y) = ΣMxP ….....(2)

ΣMxP is the summation of moments due to external forces (P1, P2 and P3 to the left of x )
about section x.
 General Cable Theory
Substituting the value of Ay from Eq. (1) to Eq. (2),

xΣMBP
− Hx tanα + Hx tanα – Hy = ΣMxP
L
x
Hy = ΣMBP – ΣMxP …………………………………..……………………….(3)
L
 General Cable Theory
Now, let us consider the simply-supported beam.
ΣMAt B = 0
RAL – ΣMBP = 0

ΣMBP
RA = ………………………………………...……………………………(4)
L
 General Cable Theory
ΣMAt x distance = RAx – ΣMxP
ΣMBP
= x – ΣMxP
L
= Hy
Hy = ΣMAt x distance for the simply-supported beam
which is the claim as per the general cable theorem.
 Cable Shape: Uniform Load

The general cable theorem leads to

𝐰𝐋𝐱 𝐰𝐱 𝟐
Hym = – ……………..(1)
𝟐 𝟐
At mid span ym = h called the cable sag.

L
X=
2

𝐰𝐋𝟐
Hh =
𝟖

𝐰𝐋𝟐
H=
𝟖𝐡
 Cable Shape: Uniform Load

Substituting this value of H into Eq. (1)

𝐰𝐋𝟐 𝐰𝐋𝐱 𝐰𝐱 𝟐 𝐰𝐱
y = – = (L-x)
𝟖𝐡 m 𝟐 𝟐 𝟐

𝟒𝐡𝐱
ym = 𝟐 (L-x)
𝐋
This equation defines the shape of the
cable with respect to the cable chord.
 Cable Shape: Uniform Load
If the origin o of the axes is taken at the
left end of the cable,
y = - (ym - x tanϒ)
(Negetive as m is below x axis)
= x tanϒ – ym
Substituting for ym
4hx
y = x tanϒ - 2 (L-x)
L
4hx
y = 2 (x-L) - x tanϒ ………….(2)
L

This equation defines the shape of the cable with respect to the horizontal axis with
origin at left end of cable.
 Math 1

Question: A cable is loaded as shown in figure. Find yc, ye and cable tension at
various location.
 Math 1 (Cont..)

Solution:

For the simply supported beam,

ΣMa = 0
(1 x 10) + (2 x 20) + (0.5 x 40) – Rb x 60 = 0
Rb = 1.17 kip
ΣV = 0 1 kip 2 kip 0.5 kip

Ra + Rb = 1 + 2 + 0.5 a b
Ra = 2.33 kip

Ra Rb
 Math 1 (Cont..)
1 kip 2 kip 0.5 kip

a b
c d e

Ra Rb
2.33 k
1.33 k

SFD
At point d H x 10 = 36.6 -0.67 k
H = 3.66 kip -1.17 k -1.17 k
36.6
At point c H x yc = 23.3 23.3 23.2
3.66 x yc = 23.3
BMD
yc = 6.37 ft
 Math 1 (Cont..)
1 kip 2 kip 0.5 kip

a b
c d e

Ra Rb
2.33 k
1.33 k

SFD
-0.67 k
At point e H x ye = 23.2
3.66 x ye = 23.2 -1.17 k -1.17 k
36.6
ye = 6.34 ft 23.3 23.2

BMD
 Math 1 (Cont..)

2.33 k
10
At point a: Tac x = 3.66
102 + 6.372 3.66 k a
6.37
Tac = 4.34 kip 10

Tac

10 Tdc
At point d: Tdc x = 3.66
102 + (10−6.37)2 10 – 6.37
Tdc = 3.89 kip 10 d
3.66 k

2k
 Math 1 (Cont..)
Tde

20 10 – 6.34
At point d: Tde x = 3.66 d
202 +(10−6.34)2 3.66 k 20

Tde = 3.72 kip

2k
20
At point b: Tbe x = 3.66 1.17 k
2
20 + 6.34 2

Tbe = 3.84 kip b

3.66 k
Max T = 4.34 kip
6.34
20
Tbe
 Math 2

Question: A cable is loaded as shown in figure. Find the cable length and
maximum tension. Given, maximum sag = 50 ft.
 Math 2 (Cont..)
100 k 50 k 200 k 300 k
Solution:
a b
For the simply supported beam,
c d e f
ΣMa = 0
(100 x 200) + (50 x 400) + (200 x 600) + Ra Rb
250 150
(300 x 800) – 1000Rb = 0 100

Rb = 400 k SFD
-100
-400 -400
ΣV = 0 100 x 103
80 x 103 80 x 103
Ra + Rb = 100 + 50 + 200 + 300 50 x 103

Ra = 250 kip
BMD
 Math 2 (Cont..)

yf

ye
yd
yc

80
60
40
20
 Math 2 (Cont..)
100 k 50 k 200 k 300 k

From the General cable theory , a b

c d e f
H.ymax = BMmax
Ra Rb
100 × 103
H= = 2000 k 250 150
50 100
SFD
-100
At point c:
-400 -400
H.yc = BMc 100 x 103
80 x 103 80 x 103
50 × 103 50 x 103
yc = = 25 ft.
2000
BMD
 Math 2 (Cont..)
100 k 50 k 200 k 300 k
Solution:
Similarly, a b
c d e f
80 × 103
yd = = 40 ft.
2000 Ra Rb
250 150
100 × 103 100
ye = = 50 ft.
2000 SFD
-100
80 × 103
yf = = 40 ft. -400 -400
2000 100 x 103
80 x 103 80 x 103
50 x 103

BMD
 Math 2 (Cont..)

40’

50’
40’ 40’
20’
10’

5’

Length of the cable

L = 2002 + 52 + 2002 + 52 + 2002 + 102 + 2002 + 302 + 2002 + 602
L = 1011.42 ft.
 Math 2 (Cont..)

Tension is maximum where the slope of cable is steepest.

Steepest slope exists in bf segment. Vb

At point b: b
2000 k
200 60
2000 = Tbf x
2002 + 602 200
Tbf
Tbf = Tmax = 2088.06 k
 Math 3

Question: Determine the tension in cables and what is the dimension h?

 Math 3 (Cont..)
Solution:
 Math 3 (Cont..)

At point C:
 Math 3 (Cont..)

At point B: