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INSTRUCTOR: ENGR. MARC DANIEL LAURINA

 CABLES AND
ARCHES
CE 011: STRUCTURAL THEORY
MODULE 6
PREPARED BY: ENGR. MARC DANIEL LAURINA
1. Cables
1.1. Cable subjected to Concentrated Loads
1.2. Cable subjected to Distributed/Uniform
Loads (Parabolic Cable)
1.3. Cable subjected to its Own Weight
(Catenary Cable)
2. Arches
 Review from
Module 1:
Forms of Structures
Structure

• A structure refers to a system of connected parts used to support a load.

• Important examples related to civil engineering include buildings, bridges,
and towers; and in other branches of engineering, ship and aircraft
frames, tanks, pressure vessels, mechanical systems, and electrical
supporting structures are important.

STRUCTURAL THEORY LECTURES by Engr. Marc Daniel Laurina

Forms of Structure

STRUCTURAL THEORY LECTURES by Engr. Marc Daniel Laurina

CABLES
Cables
• Cables are often used in engineering structures for support and to transmit loads
from one member to another.
• Cables carry applied loads & develop mostly tensile stresses - Loads applied through
hangers

STRUCTURAL THEORY LECTURES by Engr. Marc Daniel Laurina

Cable Type Structures
• Flexible cables are used for suspension bridges and aerial tramways, for power
transmission and telephone lines, for guy wires on radio and television towers, and
for many other engineering applications

STRUCTURAL THEORY LECTURES by Engr. Marc Daniel Laurina

Cable Structures

STRUCTURAL THEORY LECTURES by Engr. Marc Daniel Laurina

Cable Structures
• Brooklyn Bridge, 1883

STRUCTURAL THEORY LECTURES by Engr. Marc Daniel Laurina

Cable-Stayed Structures

STRUCTURAL THEORY LECTURES by Engr. Marc Daniel Laurina

 Cable-Stayed Structures

• 33-billion Cebu-Cordova Link

Expressway, an 8.5 kilometer
project
• It is the longest sea-crossing
bridge in the Philippines

STRUCTURAL THEORY LECTURES by Engr. Marc Daniel Laurina

Cables
• Cables, which are made of a group of high-strength wires twisted together to form a
strand, have an ultimate tensile strength o(approximately 270 kips/in^2 (1862 MPa).
• The twisting operation imparts a spiral pattern to the individual wires.

STRUCTURAL THEORY LECTURES by Engr. Marc Daniel Laurina

Video: Suspension Bridge

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=caTaBeKUh-U

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E6tp8DCAJ-0

STRUCTURAL THEORY LECTURES by Engr. Marc Daniel Laurina

Assumptions in Cables

• Assumption that the cable is perfectly flexible and inextensible.

1. The cable is perfectly flexible (cable offers no resistance to bending so
the tensile force acting in the cable is always tangent to the cable at
points along its length). Self weight of cable neglected when external
loads act on the cable
2. The cable is inextensible (cable has a constant length before and after
load is applied—cable can be treated as a rigid body).

STRUCTURAL THEORY LECTURES by Engr. Marc Daniel Laurina

Analysis of Cables

1. Cable subjected to Concentrated Loads

2. Cable subjected to Distributed/Uniform Loads (Parabolic Cable)
3. Cable subjected to its Own Weight (Catenary Cable)

STRUCTURAL THEORY LECTURES by Engr. Marc Daniel Laurina

18
 “Success is no accident. It is hard work,
perseverance, learning, studying, sacrifice
and most of all, love of what you are
going or learning to do.”
Edson Arantes do Nascimento – Pelé

19
CABLES SUBJECTED
TO CONCENTRATED
LOADS
Cables
• When a cable of negligible weight supports several
concentrated loads, the cable takes the form of several
straight line segments, each of which is subjected to a
constant tensile force.
• The equilibrium analysis is performed by writing down a
sufficient number of equilibrium equations (based on the
entire cable or any part thereof) and equations describing
the geometry of the cable to solve for all the unknowns
leading to a description of the tension in (each segment of)
the cable.

STRUCTURAL THEORY LECTURES by Engr. Marc Daniel Laurina

Example 1
• Determine the tension in each segment of the cable shown in figure. Determine
also the sag yb and yd.

Watch: 🎥 Recorded Lecture

Video_Module 6 Example 1

STRUCTURAL THEORY LECTURES by Engr. Marc Daniel Laurina

CABLES SUBJECTED
TO A DISTRIBUTED
LOAD
Cables
• Figure shows a cable that is suspended from its endpoints A and B. In order to support the
distributed loading of intensity w, the cable must assume a curved shape. It turns out that the
equation describing this shape is simplified if we place the origin of the xy-coordinate system at the
lowest point O of the cable. We let s be the distance measured along the cable from O.

STRUCTURAL THEORY LECTURES by Engr. Marc Daniel Laurina

 Parabolic Cables

• A suspended cable is subjected to a vertical load uniformly

distributed along a horizontal line.
• The origin of the coordinate system is at the cable s lowest
point.
• The curve described by the cable is the parabola
• Consider the whole structure and section to solve the reaction.
• T min acts at the lowest point of the cable
• T max acts at the reaction

STRUCTURAL THEORY LECTURES by Engr. Marc Daniel Laurina

 Length of Parabolic Cables

• Exact:

• Approximate:

8 32 256 6
𝑆 = 𝐿 1 + 𝑚2 − 𝑚4 + 𝑚
3 5 7
𝑑 𝑆𝑎𝑔
𝑚= =
𝐿 𝑆𝑝𝑎𝑛

STRUCTURAL THEORY LECTURES by Engr. Marc Daniel Laurina

Example 2: CE Board Exam Nov 2017
 Symmetrical Parabolic Cable
• A series of uniformly spaced hangers along a parabolic
cable supports a 60 m pipeline as shown. The total weight
of the pipe and water is 7 kN/m.
1. Calculate the minimum sag (m) of the cable if the
allowable tensile load of the cable is 3200 kN.
2. If the sag is y = 3 m, calculate the tensile stress (MPa)
at mid length of the cable if its diameter is 75 mm.
3. If the sag is y = 2 m, calculate the maximum
additional load (kN/m) can the cable support if its
allowable tensile load is 2000 kN.
STRUCTURAL THEORY LECTURES by Engr. Marc Daniel Laurina
Example 3

 Unsymmetrical Parabolic Cable

• A uniform 80-m pipe that weighs 960 kN is supported entirely by a cable AB of
negligible weight. Determine the length of the cable and the maximum and
minimum force in the cable.

Watch: 🎥 Recorded Lecture

Video_Module 6 Example 3

STRUCTURAL THEORY LECTURES by Engr. Marc Daniel Laurina

Example 4: CE Board Exam Nov 2013

• The parabolic cable supports the truss shown in the figure. The truss is pinned at
D. Determine the tension at F where the tangent is zero; vertical reaction at pin D;
and vertical reaction at A.

Watch: 🎥 Recorded Lecture

Video_Module 6 Example 4

STRUCTURAL THEORY LECTURES by Engr. Marc Daniel Laurina

CABLES SUBJECTED
TO ITS OWN
WEIGHT
 Catenary Cables

• This is a suspended cable that is subjected to a vertical load

uniformly distributed along the length of the cable.
• The load carried is due to its own weight.
• The origin of the coordinate system is at the cable s lowest
point.
• The curve described by the cable is the catenary which is
the graph of the equation y = cosh x

STRUCTURAL THEORY LECTURES by Engr. Marc Daniel Laurina

Catenary Cables
Catenary Cables

𝑜𝑟
𝑥1 𝑥2
𝑆1 = 𝑐 sinh 𝑆2 = 𝑐 sinh
𝑐 𝑐

• S - Length of Cable,
• y – sag
• X – horizontal distance
STRUCTURAL THEORY LECTURES by Engr. Marc Daniel Laurina
Example 5

• A catenary cable shown has a weight of 215.82 N/m. It has a tension of 300 kN at
its lowest point of the cable.
1. Find the sag of the cable
2. Find the tension at B.
3. Find the total length of the cable.

Watch: 🎥 Recorded Lecture

Video_Module 6 Example 5

STRUCTURAL THEORY LECTURES by Engr. Marc Daniel Laurina

ARCHES
 Arches

• In architecture, an arch is an opening in a structure that

is curved on top and designed to distribute weight.
• Arches are used in structural engineering because they
can support a very large mass placed on top of them.
• You may see arches over doors and windows. They are
frequently used to construct bridges. There are even
arches in your body. The arches in your feet help to
support your entire weight!

STRUCTURAL THEORY LECTURES by Engr. Marc Daniel Laurina

Arches
• An arch is a curved structure designed to carry loads across a gap mainly by compression.
• Efficient in Compression
• Minimal Bending Stress
• Like cables, arches can be used to reduce the bending moments in long-span structures.
• The geometry of the curve further affects the cost and stresses. The circular arch is easiest to
construct, the catenary arch is the most efficient.
• The SHAPE of the arch may be chosen to be as close as possible to the FUNICULAR of the heaviest
loads, so as to minimize BENDING.
Arches

STRUCTURAL THEORY LECTURES by Engr. Marc Daniel Laurina

Arches

STRUCTURAL THEORY LECTURES by Engr. Marc Daniel Laurina

Arches

STRUCTURAL THEORY LECTURES by Engr. Marc Daniel Laurina

Arch-Type Structures
• Arches
• Domes
• Shells
• Vaults

Shells
 Arch Structures

• An arched bridge has a curved arch with

abutments at each end, which are structures
that keep the ends of the bridge from spreading
out and also carry the load. An arched bridge
has great natural strength. Instead of pushing
straight down, the arches transfer the weight of
the bridge outward to the abutments.
• A viaduct is a long bridge made from a series of
arches.
STRUCTURAL THEORY LECTURES by Engr. Marc Daniel Laurina
Vaults

• Manila Cathedral

STRUCTURAL THEORY LECTURES by Engr. Marc Daniel Laurina

Domes

STRUCTURAL THEORY LECTURES by Engr. Marc Daniel Laurina

Common Forms of Arches

STRUCTURAL THEORY LECTURES by Engr. Marc Daniel Laurina

Common Variations of Arches

• It is often made from reinforced concrete.

• It is indeterminate to the third degree

• It is commonly made from metal or timber.

• It is indeterminate to the first degree.

STRUCTURAL THEORY LECTURES by Engr. Marc Daniel Laurina

Common Variations of Arches

• It is also made from metal or timber,

• It is statically determinate.
• Unlike statically indeterminate arches, it is
not affected by settlement or temperature
changes.

• It allows the structure to behave as a rigid unit,

since the tie rod carries the horizontal
component of thrust at the supports.
• It is also unaffected by relative settlement of the
supports.
STRUCTURAL THEORY LECTURES by Engr. Marc Daniel Laurina
Analysis of Three-Hinged Arch

STRUCTURAL THEORY LECTURES by Engr. Marc Daniel Laurina

Video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qL0w_rhMH3o
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ac6iqzSuTwQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CP3fMa9iq8w
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qfPt8J95R-A&t=294s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HBuy176w9wY
 Example 6

Determine the horizontal and

vertical components of reaction
at A and B of the three-hinged
arch. Assume A, B, and C are pin
connected. Assume also that
arch is circular.

Watch: 🎥 Recorded Lecture

Video_Module 6 Example 6

STRUCTURAL THEORY LECTURES by Engr. Marc Daniel Laurina

Example 7. CE Board Exam May 2016
For the gable frame shown, the design wind force
on structures is computed as the product of the
basic wind pressure, p, and the wind coefficient, C.
Wind force is a pressure if the coefficient if positive
and a suction if the coefficient is negative. Given
the following data:
 C1 = 0.80, C2 = -0.10, C3= -0.50, C+ = -0.40.
 p = 1.44 kPa, Li = 6 m, L2 = 6 m,
 H1 = 4 m, H2 = 2 m.
Consider 6 m design tributary width of the gable
frame. If the roller support at B was changed to a
hinge support, and the hinge is added at D,
calculate the following:
a. The vertical reaction (kN) at A. Note: Problem from Module 2
b. The horizontal reaction (kN) at B.
c. The horizontal reaction (kN) at A.
STRUCTURAL THEORY LECTURES by Engr. Marc Daniel Laurina
END OF SLIDE

TO GOD BE THE GLORY