Structural Studies Bridges

Figure 1 Cables of The George Washington Bridge,1 New York City

Suspension Bridges II:

Cables

Contents

1. Form: The Cable

2. Forces: Axial Tension
3. Tensile Stress
4. Conclusions

Princeton University
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering January 2019
Professor Maria E. Moreyra Garlock
Structural Studies Bridges

In Structural Studies: Suspension Bridges I, we learned about the components of a suspension

bridge (See Visual Glossary) and the forces acting in the towers and anchors. Here we focus
on the forces in the cables2.

1. Form: The Cable

Unlike cantilevers and columns, which are straight and stiff, cables are flexible structural
elements. A flexible structural element can resist only axial tensile forces; it cannot resist
compression, shear or bending. Because of their flexibility, cables can change their shape
so that any applied load will only create tensile forces in them. For example, a cable that
has a single point load, Q, applied at midspan takes on the shape shown in Figure 2, left.
Figure 2, right shows the form (a parabola) that a cable takes on under a uniformly
distributed load, q, like that of a suspension bridge.

Figure 2
Left: Cable Shape Under
a Point Load
Right: Cable Shape Under a
Uniformly Distributed Load

These forms taken by cables under certain loading conditions are called funicular forms.
A distinct funicular form exists for each unique loading condition. The main cable of a
suspension bridge is an example of a funicular form. Due to the nature of the distributed
load, the cables develop the parabolic curvature that is characteristic of suspension bridges.

Figure 3
Left: Cable with 2 equal
point loads applied.
Right: Cable with 2 unequal
point loads applied

2. Forces: Axial Tension

The tensile force that develops in the cable acts along the axis of the cable (N), which can
be separated into a horizontal (H) and vertical (V) component (Figure 4). In the previous
study, we illustrated how to find the vertical and horizontal forces at the tower due to main
span and back span. Thus, we can use these values at the tower to find the axial force in
the cable.

Figure 4
Slope of The Cable (α)

Suspension Bridges II — 2
Structural Studies Bridges

The axial force can be found by using trigonometric relationships of horizontal and vertical
force components. First, the angle of the cable at a particular point is found by the following
relationship:

Equation 1 𝑉𝑉
Slope of cable tan(𝛼𝛼) =
𝐻𝐻
𝑉𝑉
tan(𝛼𝛼) =
where V is the vertical force component and H is the horizontal force component acting on
𝐻𝐻
the cable. The resulting axial force in the𝑁𝑁cable,
= 𝐻𝐻 cos(𝛼𝛼)
N + 𝑉𝑉 sin(𝛼𝛼)
𝑉𝑉 (lbs or k), is determined with the formula:
tan(𝛼𝛼) =
𝐻𝐻
Equation 2
Axial force in cable
𝑁𝑁 = 𝐻𝐻 cos(𝛼𝛼) + 𝑉𝑉 sin(𝛼𝛼)
𝑁𝑁 = √𝐻𝐻 2 + 𝑉𝑉 2
𝑁𝑁 = 𝐻𝐻 cos(𝛼𝛼) + 𝑉𝑉 sin(𝛼𝛼)
where α is the slope of the cable. Alternatively, one can use Pythagorean theorem:
𝑁𝑁 = √𝐻𝐻 2 + 𝑉𝑉 2
𝑉𝑉
Equation 3
tan(𝛼𝛼) =
𝐻𝐻
Axial force in cable 𝑁𝑁 = √𝐻𝐻 2 + 𝑉𝑉 2
(alternative)
𝑉𝑉
tan(𝛼𝛼) =
𝐻𝐻 𝑉𝑉
𝛼𝛼 = tan−1 𝑉𝑉 ( )
tan(𝛼𝛼) = 𝐻𝐻
𝐻𝐻
Example 1 𝑉𝑉
𝛼𝛼 = tan−1 ( )
𝐻𝐻 k
Axial Force in the Cables of the George Washington Bridge in82,300
the midspan
𝛼𝛼𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡 𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑉𝑉 = tan−1 ( ) ≈ 20°
−1 𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠 221,400 k
𝛼𝛼 = tan ( )
𝐻𝐻
Determine: 82,300 k
𝛼𝛼𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡
The axial force in the cable of the George = tan−1 (Bridge at the
Washington
𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚 𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠 ) ≈ towers
20° on the main
221,400 k
span side and at midspan (See Figure𝛼𝛼5). −1
0 k
𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚 = tan (−1 82,300)k = 0°
𝛼𝛼𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡 𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚 𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠 = tan 221,400
( k ) ≈ 20°
221,400 k
Given: (from previous calculations in Structural Studies: 0 k Suspension Bridges I)
−1
Vertical Reaction at the Tower,𝛼𝛼V𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚
M
= 82,300 = tank (
221,400 k
) = 0°
𝑁𝑁 =
Horizontal Reaction at the Tower, HM = 221,400 k
𝐻𝐻 cos(𝛼𝛼) + 𝑉𝑉 sin(𝛼𝛼)
0k
𝛼𝛼𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚 = tan−1 ( ) = 0°
Vertical Reaction at Midspan, V = 0 k 221,400 k
𝑁𝑁 H
Horizontal Reaction at Midspan,
tan(𝛼𝛼) 𝐻𝐻𝑉𝑉cos(𝛼𝛼)
=== 221,400 + k𝑉𝑉 sin(𝛼𝛼)
𝐻𝐻𝑁𝑁𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡 𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚 𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠 = 221,400 k ∙ cos(20°) + 82,300 k ∙ sin(20°
𝑁𝑁𝑁𝑁=𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡
𝐻𝐻 cos(𝛼𝛼) + 𝑉𝑉 sin(𝛼𝛼)
𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚 𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠 ≈ 236,200 k
𝑁𝑁𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡 𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚 𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠 = 221,400 k ∙ cos(20°) + 82,300 k ∙ sin(20°)
Figure 5
𝑉𝑉 𝑁𝑁 = 𝐻𝐻 cos(𝛼𝛼) + 𝑉𝑉 sin(𝛼𝛼)
tan(𝛼𝛼) =
Main span free-body 𝐻𝐻 𝑁𝑁𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡 𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚 𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠 ≈ 236,200
𝑁𝑁𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡 k
= 221,400 k ∙ cos(20°)
diagram of bridge from 𝑁𝑁𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚
𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚 = 221,400
𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠 k ∙ cos(0°) + 0 k ∙+ 82,300 k ∙ sin(20°)
sin(0°)
tower to midspan
𝑁𝑁 = √𝐻𝐻 2𝑁𝑁+ 𝑁𝑁𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚
𝑉𝑉 2 𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚 =
𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡 ≈ 236,200
221,400
𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠 k k
𝑁𝑁 = 𝐻𝐻 cos(𝛼𝛼) + 𝑉𝑉 sin(𝛼𝛼)
𝑁𝑁𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚 = 221,400 k ∙ cos(0°) + 0 k ∙ sin(0°)

𝑁𝑁𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚 = 221,400 k
𝑁𝑁𝑉𝑉𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚
𝑁𝑁 = 221,400 k ∙ cos(0°) + 0 k ∙ sin(0°)
Solution tan(𝛼𝛼) = 𝑓𝑓𝑡𝑡 =
𝑁𝑁 = √𝐻𝐻 2 + 𝑉𝑉 2 𝐴𝐴
𝑁𝑁𝐻𝐻𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚 = 221,400 k
Step 1: Calculate the slope of the cable𝑁𝑁 at the tower and at midspan.
𝑓𝑓𝑡𝑡 =
𝐴𝐴
𝑉𝑉 −1
𝐴𝐴𝑉𝑉= 𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛 𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜 𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐 ∙ 𝐴𝐴𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜−𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐
tan(𝛼𝛼) = 𝛼𝛼 = tan ( )𝑁𝑁
𝐻𝐻 𝑓𝑓𝑡𝑡 =𝐻𝐻
𝐴𝐴 =𝐴𝐴4 ∙ 800 in2 = 3,200 in2
𝐴𝐴 = 𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛 𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜 𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐 ∙ 𝐴𝐴𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜−𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐
𝑉𝑉 𝐴𝐴 = 4 ∙ 800 2 82,300
= (3,200 in2k
𝛼𝛼 = tan−1 ( ) 𝛼𝛼𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡 𝐴𝐴 𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠
𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚 = in
tan−1
= 𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛 𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜 𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐 )∙ ≈
𝐴𝐴𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜−𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐
20°
𝐻𝐻 221,400 k
Suspension Bridges II — 3
𝐴𝐴 = 4 ∙ 800 in2 = 3,200 in2
 𝑁𝑁 √ 22 + 𝑉𝑉 22
𝑁𝑁 =
= √𝐻𝐻𝐻𝐻 𝑉𝑉
+ 𝑉𝑉
Structural Studies Bridges 𝑁𝑁 = √𝐻𝐻=22 + 𝑉𝑉 22
tan(𝛼𝛼)
𝐻𝐻
𝑉𝑉
𝑉𝑉
𝑉𝑉 tan(𝛼𝛼) =
tan(𝛼𝛼)
tan(𝛼𝛼) =
= 𝐻𝐻
𝑉𝑉 𝐻𝐻
tan(𝛼𝛼) = 𝐻𝐻 𝑉𝑉
𝛼𝛼 = tan−1𝐻𝐻( )
𝐻𝐻
At the tower: 𝑁𝑁 = 𝐻𝐻 cos(𝛼𝛼) + 𝑉𝑉 sin(𝛼𝛼)
−1 𝑉𝑉
𝑉𝑉
𝛼𝛼 = tan
𝛼𝛼 = tan−1 (𝐻𝐻 −1 ( )
𝑉𝑉 )
𝛼𝛼 = tan−1 ( 𝐻𝐻) 82,300 k
𝐻𝐻 = tan−1 (
𝛼𝛼𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡 𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚 𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠 ) ≈ 20°
221,400 k
𝑁𝑁 = √𝐻𝐻 2 + 𝑉𝑉 2
At the midspan: 82,300 k
−1 82,300 k
𝛼𝛼
𝛼𝛼𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡 =
= tan
𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚 𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠 −1 (
tan−1 ( ) ≈ 20°
𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡 𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚 𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠 82,300
221,400 kk) ≈ 20°
𝛼𝛼𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡
𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡 𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚 = tan−1 0
𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚 𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠
𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠 (221,400
k k) ≈ 20°
𝛼𝛼𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚 = tan−1 ( ) =k 0°
221,400 𝑉𝑉
221,400 k tan(𝛼𝛼) =
𝐻𝐻
0
0 kk therefore
The cable
𝛼𝛼 is horizontal
𝛼𝛼𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚 = tan−1
−1
𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚 = tan−1 0 k ) = 0° it makes sense that α = 0.
at(midspan,
−1 (221,400 k) = 0°
𝛼𝛼
𝑁𝑁𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚
𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚 = tan ( 221,400
= 𝐻𝐻 cos(𝛼𝛼) + 𝑉𝑉 sin(𝛼𝛼) k) = 0°
Step 2: Calculate the axial 221,400 k cable at the
force of the 𝑉𝑉
𝛼𝛼 = tan−1 (tower
) and at midspan.
𝐻𝐻
𝑁𝑁
𝑁𝑁 = = 𝐻𝐻𝐻𝐻 cos(𝛼𝛼)
cos(𝛼𝛼) + + 𝑉𝑉
𝑉𝑉 sin(𝛼𝛼)
sin(𝛼𝛼)
𝑁𝑁
𝑁𝑁𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡
= 𝐻𝐻 𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚
cos(𝛼𝛼) +=
𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠 𝑉𝑉 221,400
sin(𝛼𝛼) k ∙ cos(20°) + 82,300 k ∙ sin(20°)
At the𝑁𝑁tower: 82,300 k
𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡 𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚 𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠≈ 236,200 k 𝛼𝛼𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡 𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚 𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠 = tan−1 ( ) ≈ 20°
221,400 k
𝑁𝑁 = 221,400 k ∙ cos(20°) + 82,300
𝑁𝑁𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡 𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚 𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠 = 221,400 k ∙ cos(20°) + 82,300 k ∙ sin(20°)
𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡 𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚 𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠 k ∙ sin(20°)
𝑁𝑁𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡
𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡 𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚 𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠 = 221,400 k ∙ cos(20°) + 82,300 k ∙ sin(20°)
𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚 𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠
𝑁𝑁
𝑁𝑁𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡 𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚 𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠 ≈
≈ 236,200
236,200 k
k
𝑁𝑁 = 𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠
𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡 𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚
𝑁𝑁𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚 221,400 ≈ k ∙ cos(0°)
236,200 k
+ 0 k ∙ sin(0°)
𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡 𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚 𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠
𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡 𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚 𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠 0k
𝛼𝛼𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚 = tan−1 ( ) = 0°
At the𝑁𝑁midspan:
𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚 = 221,400 k 221,400 k
𝑁𝑁
𝑁𝑁𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚 = 221,400 k ∙ cos(0°) + 0 k ∙ sin(0°)
𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚 = 221,400 k ∙ cos(0°) + 0 k ∙ sin(0°)
𝑁𝑁𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚
𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚 = 221,400 k ∙ cos(0°) + 0 k ∙ sin(0°)
𝑁𝑁
𝑁𝑁𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚 = 221,400
221,400 kk
𝑁𝑁 =
𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚 𝑁𝑁 = 𝐻𝐻 cos(𝛼𝛼) + 𝑉𝑉 sin(𝛼𝛼)
𝑓𝑓𝑁𝑁𝑡𝑡𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚
=
𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚 = 221,400 k
𝐴𝐴
𝑁𝑁
𝑁𝑁
𝑓𝑓 𝑁𝑁𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡 𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚 𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠 = 221,400 k ∙ cos(20°) + 82,300 k ∙ sin(2
𝑓𝑓𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡 =
= 𝑁𝑁
𝐴𝐴
𝑓𝑓 = 𝐴𝐴
𝐴𝐴𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡 = 𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛 𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜 𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐 ∙ 𝐴𝐴𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜−𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐
𝐴𝐴 𝑁𝑁𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡 𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚 𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠 ≈ 236,200 k
𝐴𝐴 = 4 ∙ 800 in2 = 3,200 in2
3. Tensile Stress
𝐴𝐴
𝐴𝐴 = = 𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛
𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛 𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜
𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜 𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐
𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐 ∙∙ 𝐴𝐴
𝐴𝐴𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜−𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐
𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜−𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐
𝐴𝐴 = 𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛
Recall from Structural Study:
𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜 𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐 ∙ 𝐴𝐴 𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜−𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐
𝑁𝑁𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚
Basics of2𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜−𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐
Structural = 221,400
Analysis k ∙ cos(0°)
that stress + 0 k by
is computed ∙ sin(0°)
dividing
2
𝐴𝐴
𝐴𝐴 =
= 4
4 ∙
∙ 800
800 in 2 = 3,200 in2
in22 = 3,200 in22
the axial 𝐴𝐴
force = 4by∙ the
800cross-sectional
in = 3,200 inarea. For cables the axial loads are tensile. The resulting
𝑁𝑁𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚 = 221,400 k
stresses are also tensile and we’ll refer to them as tensile stresses, ft.

Equation 4 𝑁𝑁
Tensile Stress
𝑓𝑓𝑡𝑡 =
𝐴𝐴

At the midspan of the bridge the cable is horizontal and therefore the tensile force, N, is
𝐴𝐴 = 𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛 𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜 𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐 ∙ 𝐴𝐴𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜−𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐
in the horizontal direction. This tensile force is equal (in magnitude and direction) to the
horizontal reaction, H, at the tower as seen𝐴𝐴in=the 800 in2 =
4 ∙previous example. 2
3,200 inWe will use this tensile
force to calculate the tensile stress, ft in the cable (Figure 6).

Figure 6
Cable Under Tension

Suspension Bridges II — 4
Structural Studies Bridges
0k
𝛼𝛼𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚 = tan−1 ( ) = 0°
221,400 k

Example
𝑁𝑁 =2𝐻𝐻 cos(𝛼𝛼) + 𝑉𝑉 sin(𝛼𝛼)

Stress in the Cables of the George Washington Bridge

𝑁𝑁𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡 𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚 𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠 = 221,400 k ∙ cos(20°) + 82,300 k ∙ sin(20°)

Determine:
𝑁𝑁𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡
The stress in 𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚 𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠 ≈
the cable of236,200 k Washington Bridge at midspan and calculate its
the George
efficiency.

Given:𝑁𝑁𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚 = 221,400 k ∙ cos(0°) + 0 k ∙ sin(0°)

There are four cables each with an area, A= 800 in2
𝑁𝑁𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚 = 221,400 k
Recall the tensile force, H = 221,400 k
Ammann used an allowable stress, fallow = 82 ksi for steel cable.
𝑁𝑁
Solution
𝑓𝑓𝑡𝑡 =
𝐴𝐴
Step 1: Calculate the total cross-sectional area of the cables

𝐴𝐴 = 𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛 𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜 𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐 ∙ 𝐴𝐴𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜−𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐

𝐴𝐴 = 4 ∙ 800 in2 = 3,200 in2

Step 2: Calculate the tensile stress in each cable3:

𝑁𝑁𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚 𝐻𝐻 221,400 k
𝑓𝑓𝑡𝑡 = = = = 69.2 ksi
𝐴𝐴 𝐴𝐴 3,200 in2
𝑁𝑁𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚 𝐻𝐻 221,400
69.2 ksik = 69.2
Step 3: 𝑓𝑓
𝑡𝑡 =
Calculate = 𝑓𝑓𝑡𝑡 = = of : ksi
𝐴𝐴the=efficiency the
incables
3
𝐸𝐸𝐸𝐸𝐸𝐸𝐸𝐸𝐸𝐸𝐸𝐸𝐸𝐸𝐸𝐸𝐸𝐸𝐸𝐸 𝐴𝐴 2 = 0.84
𝑓𝑓𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎 3,200
82 ksi
𝑇𝑇 𝑓𝑓𝑡𝑡 69.2 ksi
𝐸𝐸𝐸𝐸𝐸𝐸𝐸𝐸𝐸𝐸𝐸𝐸𝐸𝐸𝐸𝐸𝐸𝐸𝐸𝐸
𝑓𝑓𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎 = = = = 0.84
𝐴𝐴 𝑓𝑓𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎 82 ksi
𝑇𝑇
𝑓𝑓𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎 =
𝐹𝐹 𝐴𝐴 261,000 k
𝐴𝐴 = = ≈ 3,200 in2
𝑓𝑓𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎 82 ksi

𝐹𝐹 261,000 k
4. Conclusions
𝐴𝐴 =
𝑓𝑓𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎
=
82 ksi
≈ 3,200 in2

Notice from the previous example that the axial force at midspan is equal to the horizontal
force in the towers. At midspan, the slope is 0°. As we move along the cable towards the
tower support, the cable slope increases. As the cable slope increases, the horizontal
components of force remain constant, but the vertical force components increases, thus
increasing the overall axial force in the cable. The tensile force is therefore greatest at the
tower supports where the slope is the greatest.

H = qL2/8d is the main equation for a suspension bridge. It represents the transformation
of vertical forces into horizontal reactions and is dependent on the chosen form. The load
applied to the bridge is defined by qL while the form of the bridge is defined by the ratio
of the main span to the sag4, L/d. While the equation permits you to calculate the tensile
force in a cable given certain parameters span (L), sag (d), and the distributed load (q), the
choice of these parameters, is ultimately made by the designer. These choices dictate how
the forces are resisted in the structure and influence the aesthetic of the bridge.

Suspension Bridges II — 5
 𝑉𝑉
Structural Studies Bridges tan(𝛼𝛼) =
𝐻𝐻

𝑉𝑉
𝛼𝛼 = tan−1 ( )
w Summary of Terms 𝐻𝐻

Term Description Unit

𝛼𝛼𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡 𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚 𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠 = tan−
A cross sectional area in2
H horizontal reaction at tower lbs or k
tensile force in cable
V vertical reaction at tower lbs or k
α slope of the cable degrees 𝛼𝛼𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚 = tan−1 (
2
N axial force in the cable lbs or k

𝑁𝑁 = 𝐻𝐻 cos(𝛼𝛼) + 𝑉𝑉 si

𝑁𝑁𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡 𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚 𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠 = 22

w Summary of Equations
𝑁𝑁𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡 𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚 𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠 ≈ 23
𝑉𝑉
tan(𝛼𝛼) = 𝑉𝑉
Slope of Cable 𝐻𝐻 tan(𝛼𝛼) =
𝐻𝐻
𝑁𝑁𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚 = 221,400

Axial Force in Cable 𝑁𝑁𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚 = 221,400

𝑁𝑁 = 𝐻𝐻 cos(𝛼𝛼) + 𝑉𝑉 sin(𝛼𝛼)
𝑁𝑁 = 𝐻𝐻 cos(𝛼𝛼) + 𝑉𝑉 sin(𝛼𝛼)

𝑁𝑁
Tensile Stress 𝑁𝑁 = √𝐻𝐻 2 + 𝑉𝑉 2 √𝑓𝑓 =
𝑁𝑁 = 𝑡𝑡𝐻𝐻 2 +
𝐴𝐴 𝑉𝑉 2

𝑉𝑉 𝐴𝐴 = 𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛 𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜 𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐

tan(𝛼𝛼) = 𝑉𝑉
𝐻𝐻 tan(𝛼𝛼) =
𝐻𝐻
𝐴𝐴 = 4 ∙ 800 in2 = 3
w Visual Glossary
𝑉𝑉
𝛼𝛼 = tan−1 ( ) −1
𝑉𝑉
𝐻𝐻 𝛼𝛼 = tan ( )
𝐻𝐻

82,300 k
𝛼𝛼𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡 𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚 𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠 = tan−1 ( ) ≈ 208
𝛼𝛼𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡 𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚221,400 k −1 (
𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠 = tan
22

0k
𝛼𝛼𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚 = tan−1 ( ) = 0° 0 k
𝛼𝛼𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚
221,400= tank−1 (
221,40

𝑁𝑁 = 𝐻𝐻 cos(𝛼𝛼) + 𝑉𝑉 sin(𝛼𝛼)
𝑁𝑁 = 𝐻𝐻 cos(𝛼𝛼) + 𝑉𝑉 sin(𝛼𝛼)

𝑁𝑁𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡 𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚 𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠 = 221,400 k ∙ cos(20°)

𝑁𝑁𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡 𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚 𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠 = 221,40
𝑁𝑁𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡 𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚 𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠 ≈ 236,200 k
𝑁𝑁𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡 𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚 𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠 ≈ 236,20

𝑁𝑁𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚 = 221,400 k ∙ cos(0°) + 0 k ∙ s

𝑁𝑁𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚 = 221,400 k ∙ co
𝑁𝑁𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚Suspension
= 221,400 k
Bridges II — 6
𝑁𝑁𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚 = 221,400 k
Structural Studies Bridges

Notes
1 Image obtained from Flickr from author Kathleen Bence licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-
NonCommercial 2.0 Generic.

𝑁𝑁𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚
2 Parts of this Structural 𝐻𝐻 based
Study are 221,400 k
upon Structures and the Urban Environment, Structural Studies, by David
P, Billington𝑓𝑓and 𝑁𝑁𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚
𝑡𝑡 =Robert Mark, = 𝐻𝐻 with
1983, = 221,400 k =from
contributions 69.2 ksi Huynh.
Tracy
𝑓𝑓𝑡𝑡 = 𝐴𝐴 = 𝐴𝐴 = 3,200 in2 = 69.2
2 ksi
𝐴𝐴 𝐴𝐴 3,200 in
3 Ammann calculated the maximum tensile force, N, in the cable (which occurs at the tower closer to the New York
side) to be 261,000 k (which is similar 𝑓𝑓𝑡𝑡 69.2 ksiwe would obtain if we used the back span values for V and N as
𝐸𝐸𝐸𝐸𝐸𝐸𝐸𝐸𝐸𝐸𝐸𝐸𝐸𝐸𝐸𝐸𝐸𝐸𝐸𝐸 = 𝑓𝑓𝑡𝑡 to =the value
69.2 ksi = 0.84
approximated𝐸𝐸𝐸𝐸𝐸𝐸𝐸𝐸𝐸𝐸𝐸𝐸𝐸𝐸𝐸𝐸𝐸𝐸𝐸𝐸
in the previous = structural
𝑓𝑓𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎 =study). Using =
82 ksi this0.84
force (rather than the force at midspan) and fallow = 82 ksi
𝑓𝑓
he calculated a required area of 3,190 82 ksi
𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎 in (rounded to 3,200 in2).
2

𝑇𝑇
𝑓𝑓𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎 = 𝑇𝑇
𝑓𝑓𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎 = 𝐴𝐴
𝐴𝐴
therefore,

𝐹𝐹 261,000 k
𝐴𝐴 = 𝐹𝐹 = 261,000 k ≈ 3,200 in22
𝐴𝐴 = 𝑓𝑓𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎 = 82 ksi ≈ 3,200 in
𝑓𝑓𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎 82 ksi
Since the area required comes directly from the allowable stress in the cables, ft = fallow and the efficiency is 1.

4 The Innovators; The Engineering Pioneers who Made America Modern, by David P. Billington, John Wiley & Sons,
Inc., New York, 1996, p. 7, 9 and 12.

Suspension Bridges II — 7