Software Verification

SAP2000
6

PROGRAM NAME:
REVISION NO.:

EXAMPLE 7-002
CABLE UNIFORM AND CONCENTRATED LOADING
PROBLEM DESCRIPTION
In this example a suspended cable is subjected to uniform self-weight and
concentrated loads. The geometry, properties and loading are as described in
Section 4.6.2, Comparison Example 2, Figure 4.16 and Table 4.1 of Tibert, 1999
and are reproduced in the following figure. Two cable elements are used in the
SAP2000 model, one for the cable segment between joints 1 and 2 and the other
for the segment between joints 2 and 3. The displacement at point 2 is compared
with results presented in Tibert, 1999.
In the Sap2000 model point 2 is set at an arbitrary Z coordinate. The self-weight
load is applied first and the cable automatically assumes the correct shape as a
result of this analysis. Next the 8 kip load is applied continuing from the state at
the end of the self-weight analysis (and including the loads from the self-weight
case). To obtain the desired displacement, a response combination that combines
the results of the self-weight load case with the point load case using a -1
multiplier on the self-weight case.
GEOMETRY, PROPERTIES AND LOADING

Z
1

8 kips

3
100 ft

400 ft

500 ft
1000 ft
Cable Properties
Cable cross-sectional area = 0.85 in2
Equivalent modulus of elasticity = 19000 kips/in2
Cable self weight = 3.16 lb/ft
Undeformed length of cable segment 1-2 = 412.8837 ft
Undeformed length of cable segment 2-3 = 613.0422 ft

EXAMPLE 7-002 - 1

Software Verification
PROGRAM NAME:
REVISION NO.:

SAP2000
6

TECHNICAL FEATURES OF SAP2000 TESTED

Uniform load applied to cable elements
Concentrated load applied to cable elements
Response combination results
Nonlinear static analysis
RESULTS COMPARISON
The independent results are those for the elastic catenary shown in Table 4.2 of
Tibert, 1999.

Output Parameter

SAP2000

Independent

Percent
Difference

Point 2 X-dir Displacement, ft

-2.819

-2.819

0%

Point 2 Z-dir Displacement, ft

-18.457

-18.457

0%

COMPUTER FILES: Example 7-002

CONCLUSION
The SAP2000 results show an exact comparison with the independent results.

EXAMPLE 7-002 - 2