ECE 305 Structural Analysis II

Lecture Note 2: Analysis of Cables

Dr. Hasitha D. Hidallana-Gamage

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 Cables

• A method of reducing bending moments in the case of long

span structures consists in providing partial support at points
along the span by means of a system of cables, as in the case
of suspension bridges.

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• Besides the suspension bridges, cables are also used for cable
car system, permanent guys on the structures such as Derricks
and Radio Towers. They are also used for temporary guys
during the erection.

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• The two cases will be considered in this section

a cable subjected a cable subjected

to concentrated loads to a distributed load

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A cable subjected to concentrated loads

In deriving the necessary relations between the force in the

cable and its slope, we assume that
• Cable is perfectly flexible. Therefore, a cable has no
resistance to shear or bending and the force is always acting
tangent to the cable.
• Cable is inextensible. Therefore, cable has a constant length
in un-deformed and deformed configuration and can be
considered as a rigid body.
• Weight of the cable is negligible. However, when the cables
are used as guys, their weights has to be considered in the
structural analysis.

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A • L, L1, L2 and L3, the loads P1 and P2
ϴ
B
and the angle ϴ of the cable’s chord
AB are known.
yd
yc • Nine unknowns consisting of tension
D in each of the three segments, the
four components of reaction A and B
C P2 and the sags yc and yd.
P1 • We can write two equations of force
L1 L2 L3
equilibrium at each of points A, B, C
L
and D. This results in a total eight
equilibrium equations.

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A

ϴ B
• To complete the solution, it will be
necessary to know something about
yd
yc the geometry of the cable in order to
D obtain the necessary ninth equation.
C P2
• In order to find the unknowns, we
have to specify the one of the sags,
P1
L1 L2 L3 either yc or yd.

L4

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 Example 1
• Determine the tension in each segment of the cable as
shown in the following figure and the dimension h.

2m

h
D

B 2m
C

3kN
8kN
2m 2m 1.5m

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 Example 1
• Determine the tension in each segment of the cable as
shown in the following figure and the dimension h.

Ay

Ax A

Dy
2m

h Dx
D

θBA B 2m
TBC C
θBC
3kN
8kN
2m 2m 1.5m

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  M A  0; TCD 3 / 5(2)  TCD 4 / 5(5.5)  3(2)  8(4)  0 TCD  6.8kN

Joint C
   Fx  0; 6.8(3 / 5)  TBC cos  BC  0
   Fy  0; 6.8( 4 / 5)  8  TBC sin  BC  0
 BC  32 .30 TBC  4.8kN

Joint B
  Fx  0;  T BA cos  BA  4.8 cos 32 .3 0  0
   F y  0; T BA sin  BA  4.8 sin 32 .3 0  3  0
 BA  53 .8 0 T BA  6.9 kN 3

h  ( 2) tan 53 .8 0  2.74 m
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 Cable Subjected to a Uniform Distributed Load

• The free body diagram of a small

y
segment of the cable having a
length Δs. The distributed load is
represented by its resultant force
woΔx.
woΔx
h T+ΔT
Δx/2 Δx/2

θ+Δθ

Δy
x
x Δx θ
L T
Δx
Δs
Here the x,y axes have their origin located at the
lowest point on the cable, such that the slope is
zero at this point. 11
   F  0; x  T cos   T   T  cos       0
   F  0;y  T sin   w0 (  x )  T   T  sin       0
  M  0;
0 w0 (  x )(  x / 2)  T cos  y  T sin  x  0

• Dividing each of these equations by Δx and taking the limit as

Δx 0, and hence Δy 0, Δθ 0 and ΔT 0

d T cos   (1)
0
dx
d T sin  
 w0 (2)
dx
dy
 tan  (3)
dx
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• Integrating Eq-1, T=FH at x=0, we have:
T cos   FH (4)

• Integrating Eq-2, T=FH at x=0 and note that Tsinθ=0 at x=0.

Therefore:
T sin   w0 x (5)

• Dividing Eq-4 by Eq-5 and using Eq-3:

dy w0 x
tan    (6)
dx FH

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• Performing a second integration with y=0 at x=0 results:
w0
y x2 (7)
2 FH

• This is the equation of parabola. The constant FH may be

obtained by using the boundary condition y=h at x=L. Thus:

• Substituting into Eq-7 yields:

w0
FH  L2 (8)
2h

h
y 2
x2 (9)
L
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• From the Eq-4, the maximum tension in the cable occurs
when θ is maximum, i.e. at x=L. Then, from Eqs 4 and 5

Tmax  FH2  w0 L  (10)

2

• Or using Eq-8, we can express Tmax in terms of w0, i.e.

Tmax  w0 L 1   L / 2 h  (8)
2

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• Ignoring the self-weight of the cable and if the sag-to-span
ratio is small, which is the case for most structural
applications, the shape of the curve closely approximates a
parabola.

• From the results of this analysis, it follows that a cable will

maintain a parabolic shape, provided the dead load of the
deck for a suspension bridge or a suspension girder will be
uniformly distributed over the horizontal projected length of
the cable.

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 If the girder is simply supported as
If the girder is supported by a series of well as supported by the cable, the
hangers analysis will be statically
indeterminate to the first degree

if the girder has an internal pin at some

intermediate point along its length, then
this would provide a condition of
zero moment, and so a determinate
structural analysis of the girder can
be performed. 17
Example 2

• The cable shown in the following figure supports a girder

which has weight of 12.4kN/m. Determine the tension in the
cable at points A, B and C.

Y
A

12m C
B 6m
X

30-x1 x1

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• The origin of the coordinate axes is established at point B, the
lowest point on the cable, where the slope is zero. From Eq-7,
the parabolic equation for the cable is:
w0 12 .4 2
y x2  x
2 FH 2 FH

• Assuming point C is located x1 from B.

6 .2 2
6 x1
FH
FH  1.03 x12

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• For point A

12 
6 .2
 
 30  x1 2

FH

12 
6 .2
2
 
 30  x1 
2

1.03 x1
x12  60 x1  900  0
x1  12 .4 m

• Therefore,

FH  1.03 * (12 .4) 2  159 kN

dy 12 .4
 x  0.078 x1
dx 159

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• At point A
x1   (30  12 .4)  17 .6
dy
tan  A  | x  17.6  0.078 ( 17 .6)  1.37
dx
 A  53 .9 0

• Using Eq-4
FH 159
TA    270 kN
cos  A cos( 53 .9 )
0

• At point B

FH 159
TB    159 kN
cos  B cos( 0)

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• At point C

x1  12 .4 m
dy
tan  B  | x  6.4  0.078 (12 .4)  0.9672
dx
 B  44 0
FH 159
TC    221 kN
cos  C cos 44 0

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 Advantages of suspension bridges
• Cost Effective – Very minimal amount of materials needed for construction.
The only other costs incurred are with the labor involved in building it.

• Can Be Built High Up - Can be built very high up over waterways. This is
essential for any area that needs to be able to allow passing ships to come
through.

• Span Great Lengths – Construction method and the materials used allow them
to be able to span a great distance with minimal materials.

• Has Flexibility - They are flexible due to the cable system they are held up by.
The bridge can “move” with the wind and during natural disasters such as an
earthquake.

• Simple Construction - No access is needed from below the bridge during

construction, making it a great choice for areas that ships and waterways need
to stay clear. 23
 Disadvantages of suspension bridges
• Soft Ground Issues – When constructing in an area having a soft ground, like
over water, very extensive foundation work is required in order to make it safe
for heavy loads.

• Too flexible – Under extreme winds or heavy loads, suspension bridges can
move so much that the bridge would need to be closed.

• Cannot support high traffic – Since very little support is needed underneath
the deck of the bridge, and the cables are light, the bridges are very light
weight. This restricts the amount of traffic and the weight of heavy loads that
can use it.

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Thank You

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