Cables

Cables
Cables are often used in engineering structures for support and to transmit loads from one
member to another. When used to support suspension roofs, bridges, and trolley wheels, cables
form the main load-carrying element in the structure. In the force analysis of such systems, the
weight of the cable itself may be neglected; however, when cables are used as guys for radio
antennas, electrical transmission lines, and derricks, the cable weight may become important
and must be included in the structural analysis .
Two cases will be considered in the sections that follow:
1-Cable subjected to concentrated loads and
2-Cable subjected to a distributed load.
Assumptions
1- Cable is flexible and in-extensible; hence does not resist any bending moment or shear force
(this is not always true - e.g., fatigue of cables); self weight of cable neglected when external
loads act on the cable
2- Since only axial tensile forces are carried by the cable, the force in the cable is tangential to
the cable profile
3- Since it is in-extensible, the length is always constant; as a consequence of the cable profile
not changing its length and form, it is assumed to be a rigid body during analysis
4- Even when a moving load is acting on the cable, the load is assumed to be uniformly
distributed over the cable (since the cable profile is not assumed to change)

1-Cable subjected to concentrated loads

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.
Consider, for example, the cable shown in Fig. below . Here θ specifies the angle of the cable’s
cord AD , and L is the cable’s span. If the distances L1 , L2 and L3 and the loads are known, then
the problem is to determine the nine unknowns consisting of the tension in each of the three
segments, the four components of reaction at A and B, and the sags YC and YD at the two
points C and D.
For the solution we can write two equations of force equilibrium at each of points A,B,C, and D.
This results in a total of eight equations . To complete the solution , it will be necessary to know
something about the geometry of the cable in order to obtain the necessary ninth equation.
This can be done by specify one of the sags, either or instead of the cable length. By doing this,
the equilibrium equations are then sufficient for obtaining the unknown forces and the
remaining sag. Once the sag at each point of loading is obtained, can then be determined by
trigonometry. When performing an equilibrium analysis for a problem of this type, the forces in
the cable can also be obtained by writing the equations of equilibrium for the entire cable or
any portion thereof. The following example numerically illustrates these concepts
Example 2
If each cable segment can support a maximum tension of 75 KN , determine the largest load P
that can be applied safely .
Solution –
Consider the FBD shown below

↺ +Σ𝑀𝐴 = 0
𝑇𝐵𝐷 𝑆𝑖𝑛 59.04𝑜 10 − 𝑇𝐵𝐷 𝑐𝑜𝑠 59.04𝑜 2 − 50 7 − 𝑝 3 = 0

TBD = 0.39756 P + 46.383 ------- 1

+→ΣFX = 0
-AX + TBD cos 59.04 =0 ------------2
+↑ΣFy = 0
Ay+ TBD sin 59.04-P – 50 = 0 ------------3
Assume is in the cable BD the maximum tension is 75 KN
Substitute in Equ. 1 we get
P= 71.98 KN
From Equ.2 and 3 we get
AX= 38.59 KN and AY = 57.67 KN
Consider Joint A
TAC = 38.592 + 57.672 = 69.39 KN ˂ 75 KN , OK
57.67
θ = tan-1 38.50 = 56.21𝑜
Consider joint C
+→ΣFX = 0
TCD cos θ-69.39 cos 56.21=0 ------------1

+↑ΣFy = 0
TCD sinθ+69.39 sin56.21- 71.98 = 0 ------------2
Solving Equs.1 and 2 for θ and TCD we get
θ= 20.3o
TCD = 72.0 KN ˂ 75 KN , OK Ans.