6.

5 Cables: Concentrated Loads

6.5 Cables: Concentrated Loads Example 1, page 1 of 3
1. For the cable system shown, determine the
reactions at support A and the distance yC.

2m 3m 4m

A D

2.5 m yC 2 Free-body diagram of AB

Ay
B
C 2m
A
Ax

1.4 kN
2 kN 2.5 m

1 Strategy: Note that both B

TBC
horizontal and vertical
distances between A and B are
known. Thus summing 1.4 kN
moments about B, for a
free-body AB, would give an 3 Equilibrium equation
equation involving Ax and Ay
only. MB = 0: Ax(2.5 m) Ay(2 m) = 0 (1)
+
6.5 Cables: Concentrated Loads Example 1, page 2 of 3
4 We can get another equation involving the reaction at
A as the only unknown by summing moments about
D for a free body of the entire cable.

5 Free-body diagram of entire cable

6 Equilibrium equation
Ay Dy
MD = 0: (1.4 kN)(3 m + 4 m)

+
2m 3m 4m + (2 kN)(4 m)
y(2 m + 3 m + 4 m) = 0 (2)
Ax A D Dx
Solving gives

y = 1.978 kN Ans.

Using this result in Eq. 1 gives

B
C
Ax(2.5) y(2) =0 ( Eq. 1 repeated)

1.4 kN 1.978 kN
2 kN Solving gives

Ax = 1.582 kN Ans.
6.5 Cables: Concentrated Loads Example 1, page 3 of 3

7 Now that the values of Ax and Ay are known,

summing moments about C, for a free body ABC,
will give an equation with a single unknown, yc.

8 Free-body diagram of ABC

Ay 1.978 kN

2m 3m
Ax 1.582 kN
A

9 Equilibrium equation
yC
TCD
MC = 0: (1.4 kN)(3 m)

+
(1.978 kN)(2 m + 3 m)
B + (1.582 kN) yc) = 0
C

Solving gives
1.4 kN
2 kN yc = 3.60 m Ans.
6.5 Cables: Concentrated Loads Example 2, page 1 of 3
2. The horizontal force P is applied to end A of the
cable as shown. Determine the value of P and the
distance d required to keep the cable system in the
configuration shown. Also determine the total
length of the cable.

4m d

12 m
15 m

1 Strategy: Note that we know the

B horizontal distance between points A
and B, and we can compute the vertical
distance between these points. Thus
P A summing moments about B for a free
body AB, will give an equation from
3.5 kN
which P can be found.

2 kN
6.5 Cables: Concentrated Loads Example 2, page 2 of 3
2 Free-body diagram of AB 4 Now that the value of P is known, we can sum
moments about C, for a free-body of the whole
TBC cable, to obtain an equation for d.

B
5 Free-body diagram of ABC
15 m 12 m = 3 m
Cy
P A 3.5 kN
4m d
C Cx
2 kN

4m

3 Equilibrium equation for AB

MB = 0: (2 kN)(4 m) P(3 m) = 0
+

15 m
Solving gives 6 Equilibrium equation for ABC

P = 2.667 kN Ans. MC = 0: (2.667 kN)(15 m) + (2 kN)(4 m + d)

+
B + (3.5 kN)(d) = 0

Solving gives
A
P = 2.667 kN d = 5.819 m Ans.
3.5 kN

2 kN
6.5 Cables: Concentrated Loads Example 2, page 3 of 3
7 The total length of the cable can be
found by applying the Pythagorean
Theorem to segment AB and to BC

C
8 Geometry

LTotal = LAB + LBC

= (4 m)2 + (3 m)2 + (5.819 m)2 + (12 m)2

12 m
= 5 m + 13.34 m

= 18.34 m Ans.

15 m 12 m 3m
A

4m
d 5.819 m
6.5 Cables: Concentrated Loads Example 3, page 1 of 5
3. The cable supports the 150 N and 500 N
1 Strategy: Note that both the horizontal
loads shown. Determine the distance xC and
and vertical distances between A and B
the tension in each segment of the cable.
are known. Thus summing moments
about B, for a free-body AB would give
an equation involving the reaction
4m components at A (Ax and Ay), only; no
other unknowns are present.
A
2m
B 2 Free-body diagram of AB
150 N

4m
6m
Ay
C
500 N
A Ax
3m
2m
B
D 150 N
xC
TBC

3 Equilibrium equation
+ MB = 0: Ay (4 m) x (2 m) = 0 (1)
6.5 Cables: Concentrated Loads Example 3, page 2 of 5
4 Now summing moments about D, for a free body of the entire
cable, will give another equation for Ax and Ay.

6 Equilibrium equation
5 Free-body diagram of entire cable
MD = 0: x (2 m + 6 m + 3 m) (150 N)(6 m + 3 m)

+
Ay
(500 N)(3 m) = 0

A Ax
Solving gives
150 N B 2m
Ax = 259.09 N (2)

Substituting this in Eq. 1 gives

6m
4 Ay 2 Ax= 0 (Eq. 1 repeated)

259.09 N
500 N C
3m Solving gives

Ay = 129.55 N (3)
D
Dx

Dy
6.5 Cables: Concentrated Loads Example 3, page 3 of 5
7 Now that Ax and Ay are known, we can calculate xC by
summing moments about C for a free-body ABC.
8 Free-body diagram of ABC Ay 129.55 N
10 We can get the tension in AB by considering a
free body of support A.
A Ax 259.09 N
2m
150 N 11 Free-body diagram of A for calculating tension TAB
B Ay 129.55 N

TABx Ax 259.09 N
6m
TAB TABy
500 N
C 12 Summing horizontal and vertical forces gives

TCD TABx = 259.09 N (4)

xC TABy = 129.55 N (5)

and the magnitude of the tension in AB is

9 Equilibrium equation
TAB = (TABx)2 + (TABy)2
MC = 0: (150 N)(6 m) (259.09 N)(2 m + 6 m)
+

+ (129.54 N)(xC) = 0 = (259.09 N)2 + (129.55)2

Solving gives = 290 N Ans.
xC = 9.05 m Ans.
6.5 Cables: Concentrated Loads Example 3, page 4 of 5
13 Free-bodies of B and C will yield the
values of the tension in BC and CD

14 Free-body diagram of B for

calculating tension TBC

TABy 129.55 N

TBCx
B
150 N TABx 259.09 N

TBC TBCy

15 Summing vertical forces gives

TBCy = 129.55 N

Summing horizontal forces gives 16 The magnitude of the tension in BC is

+ Fx = 0: 150 N TBCx + 259.09 N = 0 TBC = (TBCx)2 + (TBCy)2

Solving gives = (109.09 N)2 + (129.55 N)2

TBCx = 109.09 N = 169.4 N Ans.

6.5 Cables: Concentrated Loads Example 3, page 5 of 5
17 Free-body diagram of C for
calculating tension TCD

TBCy 129.55 N
4m
C TCDx
TBCx 109.09 N
500 N A
TCDy TCD 2m
B
150 N

Summing vertical forces gives

6m
TCDy = 129.55 N

Summing horizontal forces gives C

500 N
+ Fx = 0: 500 N TCDx + 109.09 N = 0 3m

Solving gives D

TCDx = 390.91 N xC

The magnitude of the tension in CD is

TCD = (TCDx)2 + (TCDy)2

= (390.91 N)2 + (129.55)2

= 412 N Ans.
6.5 Cables: Concentrated Loads Example 4, page 1 of 6
4. For the cable system shown, determine the distance yC for
which segment BC will be horizontal. Also determine yD.

3m

A
yD
yC
D
B C
1.2 kN
2.2 kN 1.8 kN

0.25 m 2m 2m
0.5 m 1 Strategy: We have to make use of the fact
that segment BC is horizontal. One way to
do this is to pass a section through BC and
then consider the portion of the cable to the
left of the section.
6.5 Cables: Concentrated Loads Example 4, page 2 of 6
2 Free-body diagram of AB
Ay E

Ax A

TBC (horizontal) 3m
B

2.2 kN
A
3 Equilibrium equation for AB (Because BC is yD
yC
horizontal, we use the sum of vertical forces D
so that the unknown tension TBC will not C
B
appear in the equation.):
1.2 kN
+
Fx = 0: Ay 2.2 kN = 0 2.2 kN 1.8 kN

Solving gives
0.25 m 2m 2m
0.5 m
Ay = 2.2 kN (1)
6.5 Cables: Concentrated Loads Example 4, page 3 of 6
4 Now that Ay is known, we can solve for
Ax by summing moments about E for a
free-body diagram of the entire cable.
Ey

5 Free-body diagram of entire cable E

Ex

3m
Ay 2.2 kN 6 Equilibrium equation for entire cable

ME = 0: (1.2 kN)(0.5 m)

+
A + (1.8 kN)(0.5 m + 2 m)
Ax + (2.2 kN)(0.5 m + 2 m + 2 m)
yC (2.2 kN)(0.5 m + 2 m + 2 m + 0.25 m)
D
x(3 m) = 0
B C
1.2 kN Solving gives
2.2 kN 1.8 kN Ax = 1.517 kN (2)
0.5 m
0.25 m 2m 2m
6.5 Cables: Concentrated Loads Example 4, page 4 of 6
7 Summing moments about B for a free body AB
will now give us the value of yC. E

8 Free-body diagram of AB
Ay 2.2 kN

A 3m

Ax 1.517 kN yB yC (because BC is horizontal)

TBC
B A
yD
yB yC
2.2 kN D
B C
0.25 m 1.2 kN
2.2 kN 1.8 kN
9 Equilibrium equation for AB
0.25 m 2m 2m
MB = 0: (1.517 kN)(yC) (2.2 kN)(0.25 m) = 0 0.5 m
+

Solving gives

yC = 0.36 m Ans.
6.5 Cables: Concentrated Loads Example 4, page 5 of 6
10 Finally, summing moments about D
for a free body ABCD will give an
equation for yD.

11 Free-body diagram of ABCD

Ay 2.2 kN
TDE
A
yD 12 Equilibrium equation
Ax 1.517 kN
D
MD = 0: (1.517 kN)(yD)

+
B C
+ (2.2 kN)(2 m + 2 m)
1.2 kN + (1.8 kN)(2 m)
2.2 kN 1.8 kN (2.2 kN)(0.25 m + 2 m + 2 m) = 0

Solving gives
0.25 m 2m 2m
yD = 2.01 m Ans.
6.5 Cables: Concentrated Loads Example 4, page 6 of 6
E

3m

2.01 m
0.36 m 1.2 kN
A

13 The minus sign in yD = 2.01 m

B C indicates point D lies above point A,
not below it, as was assumed in
drawing the free-body diagram.
2.2 kN 1.8 kN
6.5 Cables: Concentrated Loads Example 5, page 1 of 4
5. For the cable system shown,
determine the value of the forces PB
and PD necessary to maintain the
given configuration. PB

A
2m
B

5m

200 N

7m

D
PD
2m E 1 Strategy: Equilibrium equations for a free
body of the entire cable would involve
six unknowns (the components of the
4m 4m support reactions: Ax, Ay, Ex, and Ey;
2m 3m
plus PB and PD). Thus using a free body
of the entire cable does not look like a
good place to start.
6.5 Cables: Concentrated Loads Example 5, page 2 of 4
Ay 2 A better place to start is to observe that we
PB know the horizontal and vertical distances
Ax between points B, C and D. Thus we can
calculate the angles that segments BC and DC
2m make with the horizontal, and then we can use
B the equilibrium equation for connector C to find
the tension in BC and in CD. Once these
5m tensions are known, we can use the equilibrium
equations for segments AB and ED to determine
BC C PB and PD.
DC 200 N
3 Geometry
7m
B 1
BC = tan ( 5 m ) = 59.04° (1)
3m
D
PD 1
5m DC = tan ( 7 m ) = 54.46° (2)
2m Ex 5m
BC
C 2m+3m 5m

Ey 3m
4m 4m C
2m 3m DC

7m

D
6.5 Cables: Concentrated Loads Example 5, page 3 of 4
4 Free-body diagram of C
6 Free-body diagram of AB
TBC

4m
BC 59.04° Ay
C 200 N
DC 54.46°
Ax PB
A
TDC 2m
B
5 Equilibrium equations for C
BC 59.04°
+ Fx = 0: TBC cos 59.04° TDC cos 54.46° + 200 = 0 TBC 177.46 N

Fy = 0: TBC sin 59.04° TDC sin 54.46° = 0 C

+

7 Equilibrium equation for AB

Solving gives
MA = 0: PB(4 m) + (177.46 N)(cos 59.04°)(2 m)

+
TBC = 177.46 N (3) (177.46 N)(sin 59.04°)(4 m) = 0
TDC = 187.02 N (4) Solving gives

PB = 106.5 N Ans.
6.5 Cables: Concentrated Loads Example 5, page 4 of 4
8 Free-body diagram of ED

DC 54.46° TDC 187.02 N

D
PD
2m Ex E

Ey

8m

9 ME = 0: PD(2 m) (187.02 N)(cos 54.46 )(2 m)

+

+ (187.02 N)(sin 54.46 )(8 m) = 0

Solving gives

PD = 500 N Ans.
6.5 Cables: Concentrated Loads Example 6, page 1 of 8
6. For the cable system shown, determine
distance yB and the tension in each segment.

1.5 ft
A

3.5 ft
yB
C

B
50 lb

80 lb
1 Strategy: If we can compute the reactions
at supports A and D, then we can compute
3.5 ft 5 ft the tensions in AB and CD. Let's start
2 ft
with support D. Note that both horizontal
and vertical distances between C and D
are known. Thus summing moments
about C, for the free body CD, would give
an equation involving Dx and Dy only.
6.5 Cables: Concentrated Loads Example 6, page 2 of 8
4 We can get another equation involving reactions at Dx and
2 Free-body diagram of CD
Dy as the only unknowns by summing moments about A
for a free body of the entire cable.
5 ft
Dy
5 Free-body diagram of entire cable
Ay
Dx
D
Dy

3.5 ft Ax 1.5 ft

Dx
C
TBC
50 lb
C

3 Equilibrium equation
B
50 lb
MC = 0: Dy(5 ft) Dx(3.5 ft) = 0 (1)
+

80 lb

2 ft
3.5 ft 5 ft

6 Equation of equilibrium

MA = 0: Dy(2 ft + 3.5 ft + 5 ft) Dx(1.5 ft)

+

(50 lb)(2 ft + 3.5 ft) 80 lb(2 ft) = 0 (2)

6.5 Cables: Concentrated Loads Example 6, page 3 of 8
7 Solving Eqs. 1 and 2 simultaneously gives

Dx = 49.15 lb (3)

Dy = 34.41 lb (4)

8 Now that the values of Dx and Dy are

known, summing moments about B, for a
free body BCD, will give an equation with
a single unknown, yB.

9 Free-body diagram BCD Dy 34.41 lb

D
Dx 49.15 lb
3.5 ft
TAB
yB
10 MB = 0: (50 lb)(3.5 ft) + (34.41 lb)(3.5 ft + 5 ft) (49.15 lb)(yB) = 0
+

C
Solving gives
B
50 lb yB = 2.39 ft Ans (5)

80 lb

3.5 ft 5 ft
6.5 Cables: Concentrated Loads Example 6, page 4 of 8
11 We still must find the tension in each cable segment.
A free-body consisting of support D will give the
tension in CD.

12 Free-body diagram of D for determining tension TCD 1.5 ft

A
Dy 34.41 lb
D
TCDx D
Dx 49.15 lb
3.5 ft
yB
TCD TCDy
C
Summing x forces and then y forces gives
B
TCDx = 49.15 lb (6) 50 lb

TCDy = 34.41 lb (7) 80 lb

The magnitude of the tension in CD is then 3.5 ft 5 ft

2 ft
TCD = (TCDx)2 + (TCDy)2

= (49.15 lb)2 + (34.41 lb)2

= 60.0 lb Ans.
6.5 Cables: Concentrated Loads Example 6, page 5 of 8
13 A free-body diagram of connection C will give
the tension in cable segment BC. 1.5 ft
A
14 Free-body diagram of C for determining tension TBC
D
TCDy 34.41 lb (Eq. 6)

3.5 ft
yB
TBCx C
TCDx 49.15 lb (Eq. 7)
C
TBCy
TBC
B
50 lb
50 lb
80 lb
Summing horizontal forces gives
3.5 ft 5 ft
TBCx = 49.15 lb (8) 2 ft

Summing vertical forces gives

Fy = 0: 34.41 lb TBCy 50 lb = 0
+

Solving gives

TBCy = 15.59 lb (9)

6.5 Cables: Concentrated Loads Example 6, page 6 of 8
15 Why did TBCy turn out A
to be negative? Because Free-body diagram of C
in drawing the tension D CDy
TBC on the free-body
diagram of C, we
assumed that B was 3.5 ft
below C: yB
CDx
C
C
TBC (Pulls down on C)
B
50 lb
50 lb
80 lb

16 But this assumption was

wrong, as we should have
realized, since we have
already calculated yB and A Corrected free-body diagram of C
found yB = 2.39 ft (Eq. 5). CDy
The corrected free-body D
diagram shows TBC pulling
up on C, which would lead 2.39 ft
3.5 ft TBC (Pulls up on C)
to a positive value of TBCy
B CDx
C
B lies C
above C

80 lb 50 lb
50 lb
6.5 Cables: Concentrated Loads Example 6, page 7 of 8
17 The magnitude of the tension in BC is

TBC = (TBCx)2 + (TBCy)2

= (49.15 lb)2 + ( 15.59 lb)2

= 51.56 lb Ans.

18 The tension in AB can be found from a free-body

diagram of connector B.

19 Free-body diagram of B for calculating TAB 20 Summing x forces gives

TAB TABx = 49.15 lb

TABy
Summing y forces gives

TABy = 15.59 lb + 80 lb

TBCx 49.15 lb = 95.59 lb

TABx B
TBCy +15.59 lb The magnitude of the tension in AB is then

TAB = (TABx)2 + (TABy)2

Since TBCy points down,
80 lb we are assuming correctly = (49.15 lb)2+ (95.59 lb)2
that point C lies below B.
= 107.5 lb Ans.
6.5 Cables: Concentrated Loads Example 6, page 8 of 8
21 The tension in the cable segments could have
been calculated by other approaches, for
example, by calculating the angle of inclination
of each segment and then summing moments 1.5 ft
about one end of the segment. A

Example: D
Ay
3.5 ft
yB
Ax A
C

B (known)
B
50 lb
B
TBC (unknown) 80 lb

80 lb
3.5 ft 5 ft
2 ft

MA = 0 gives an equation that will give us the

value of TBC. Proceeding to the next cable segment,
BC, and summing moments about end B of that
segment would give the value of the tension in that
segment, etc.
6.5 Cables: Concentrated Loads Example 7, page 1 of 7
7. The cable supports the four forces shown.
Determine the maximum tension in the cable.

18 ft 18 ft 18 ft 18 ft 18 ft

A 15 ft

35 ft F
B

C E
D
2 kip

2 kip 2 kip
2 kip

1 Strategy: To find the maximum tension, Tmax in

the cable, we could find the tension in each of
the five segments and then pick the largest.
However, this is a tedious and time-consuming
approach, and we can find Tmax more easily if we
note two facts: 1) The horizontal component of
tension is the same in all cable segments, and 2)
the maximum tension occurs in the cable
segment with the maximum slope.
6.5 Cables: Concentrated Loads Example 7, page 2 of 7
2 Demonstration that horizontal components
3 Demonstration that Tmax occurs in the segment
of tension are equal:
with the greatest slope:
Free-body diagram of B T
TAB TABy For each cable segments,
Thorizontal Thorizontal
T =
cos
B TBCx
TABx
Since Thorizontal is the same for all segments, it
TBCy
TBC follow that T will be largest where cos is
smallest, that is, where is the largest the
2 kip steepest slope.

+ Fx = 0: TABx + TBCx = 0

Thus

TABx = TBCx

That is, the horizontal components are

equal. A similar argument holds for points
C, D, and E.
6.5 Cables: Concentrated Loads Example 7, page 3 of 7
4 Thus the problem of finding Tmax has now
been reduced to determining whether the slope
is greater at A than at B.

5 To determine A, we can find Ax and Ay

first. To do this, sum moments about F for
a free-body consisting of the entire cable.

Free-body diagram of entire cable

18 ft 18 ft 18 ft 18 ft 18 ft

Ay

Fy
Ax A A 15 ft

35 ft F F Fx
B

C E 6 Equilibrium equation for cable

2 kip D
MF = 0: Ax(15 ft) y(5 18 ft)
+

2 kip 2 kip + (2 kip)(4 18 ft)

2 kip + (2 kip)(3 18 ft)
+ (2 kip)(2 18 ft)
+ (2 kip)(1 18 ft) = 0 (1)
6.5 Cables: Concentrated Loads Example 7, page 4 of 7
7 To obtain another equation for Ax and y, pass a
section through segment DE and consider a free
body ABCD.

8 Free-body diagram of ABCD

18 ft 18 ft 18 ft
Ay

9 Equilibrium equation for ABCD

A
Ax
MD = 0: Ax(35 ft) y(3 18 ft)

+
35 ft + (2 kip) (2 18 ft)
B + (2 kip) (18 ft) = 0 (2)
TDE
C Solving Eqs. 1 and 2 simultaneously gives
D
2 kip
Ax = 4.154 kip (3)
2 kip
2 kip y = 4.692 kip (4)
6.5 Cables: Concentrated Loads Example 7, page 5 of 7
10 To find the slope at F, consider a free body of the
entire cable.

11 Free-body diagram of entire cable

Ay 4.692 kip
Fy

Ax 4.154 kip A
Fx
F
B

C E 12 Equilibrium equations for entire cable

D
+ Fx = 0: 4.154 kip + Fx = 0
2 kip

2 kip 2 kip Fy = 0: 4.692 kip + Fy (4 2 kip) = 0

+
2 kip
Solving gives

Fx = 4.154 kip (5)

Fy = 3.308 kip (6)

6.5 Cables: Concentrated Loads Example 7, page 6 of 7

13 Compare slopes at A and F

Ay 4.692 kip Fy 3.308 kip

A F

Ax 4.154 kip A A F F Fx 4.154 kip

TAB TFE
1 1
A = tan ( 4.692 ) = 48.5° F = tan ( 3.308 ) = 38.5°
4.154 4.154

14 Thus A is greater than F and it follows that Tmax occurs at A.

Tmax = magnitude of the reaction force at A

= (Ax)2 + (Ay)2

= (4.154 kip)2 + (4.692 kip)2

= 6.27 kip Ans.

6.5 Cables: Concentrated Loads Example 7, page 7 of 7
15 Of course, once we had calculated the components of the
reaction at F,

Fx = 4.154 kip (Eq. 5 repeated)

Fy = 3.308 kip (Eq. 6 repeated)

we could have computed the tension in EF:

TEF = (4.154 kip)2 + (3.308 kip)2

= 5.31 kip

and then we could have compared TEF with the tension in

TAB. That is, in this particular example, we didn't have to
compare slopes, but we did it to illustrate the principle
that Tmax occurs where the slope is a maximum.