2nd ENGINEERING CORPS QUALIFYING EXAMINATION

PARABOLIC AND CATENARY CABLES

Prepared by: Jared S. Cuchapin

2 2
PARABOLIC CABLES LET: S = approximate length of the cable wL (800)(600)
H= = =900,000 lbs
8d 8(40)
2 4
THEORY: If a cable is carrying a horizontally distributed 8d 32d wL 2 (800)(600 ) 2
S=L + T = ( ) +H2 = ( 2

√ √
−
) + 900,000

a
load, the cable form a parabola or is called parabolic 3L 5L 3 2 2
cable. Example, the cable carrying a bridge is a

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parabolic cable. 2
wL wL 2 2 T = 931, 450.48lbs
H= T= (
√ ) +H
2. Uneven Elevation of Supports

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8d 2
1. Even elevation of supports

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EXAMPLE 1:
A cable which carries a uniformly distributed load

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along the horizontal is 45.4 m long and is supported
between two post at the same level, 40 m apart.

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Determine the sag of the cable.

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Note: As given the load is uniformly distributed along
its span, hence it is a parabolic cable.

w
2 4
8d 32d

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S=L + − → approximation formula
3L 5L 3

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2 4
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45.4 =40+ − d= 9.71359 meters
3(40) 5 (40)3
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EXAMPLE 2:
Each cable of a suspension bridge carries a horizontal
load of 800 lb/ft. If the span is 600 ft and the sag is 40
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ft, determine the tension at the either end of the

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cable.

T = tension at the post Note: As given the load is uniformly distributed along
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H = tension at its lowest point its span, hence it is a parabolic cable.

w = unit weight of the load 2 2
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wL
2
wL 2 w x1 w x 2
=weight per horizontal span of the load T = ( ) +H2 H= = T 1 =√(w x 1 )2+H2
L = distance between supports
Formulas: H=
8d √
2 2d1 2d2
Th

d = sag of the cable

T 2 =√(w x 2 )2+H2
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 2nd ENGINEERING CORPS QUALIFYING EXAMINATION
PARABOLIC AND CATENARY CABLES
Prepared by: Jared S. Cuchapin

EXAMPLE 3: CATENARY EXAMPLE 4:

A cable supports a uniformly distributed load along the A cable weighing 20 kg/m has a span of 150 m and sag
horizontal of 120 kg/m. The higher support o the cable THEORY: If a cable is not loaded or is carrying its own of 12 m. Determine the tension at the highest point.

a
is 5 m above the lower support while the lowest point weight only, the cable is called catenary. Example,
is 3 m below the lower support. If the span is 240 m, transmission line conductors is a catenary cable.

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determine the tension at the lowest point of the cable.
1. Even elevation of supports

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ha
s
as
w
2 2 2
2 y =S + c
wx
Formula: H=
2d 2 2 2

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(12 +c) =S +c

H=
2
w x A (120) x A
= → eq.1
2

co rc S=√(12+ c)2− c 2 → eq.1

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2d A 2 (3) S+ y
2 2
T = wy H=wc x =c ln ( )
w x B (120)(240− x A ) c
H= = → eq.2
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2dB 2 (8) 2 2 2 S+ y
y =S + c x =c ln ( ) 2 2
c √(12+c) − c +(12+c)
75=c ln( ) → shift − solve
Equate eq.1 and eq. 2: c
T = tension at the support
eH y

(120)x
2 2
(120)(240− x A ) H = tension at the lowest point of the cable T = wy → y=12+c
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A
= S = length of the cable
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w = unit weight T =20 (12+236.348)= 4966.96 kg
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y = elevation of the cable at the supports

xA = 91.15 m
c =elevation of the cable at its lowest point
x = horizontal distance from the support to the lowest
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2
(120) x A (120 )(91.15)2
H= = =166,166.45kg point.
6 6
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 2nd ENGINEERING CORPS QUALIFYING EXAMINATION
PARABOLIC AND CATENARY CABLES
Prepared by: Jared S. Cuchapin

2. Uneven elevation of supports TEST YOURSELF

1500
w= =25N /m
60 17. A transmission line is to be constructed using #4/0,

a
ACSR cable weighing 0.25kg/m. If the maximum
tension at the lowest end is 2000 kg and determine the

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T = wy --->formula
allowable spacing of the poles. Assume a factor of
1500=25 y1 → y1 =60 m safety of 2. Assume load is distributed horizontally.

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1650=25 y2 → y2 =66 m Answer: 126.5 m

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2 2 2
y =S + c --->formula

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2 2 2
60 =S1+ c → eq.1

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2 2 2
66 =(60− S1 ) +c → eq.2

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Substitute eq.1 in eq.2:
T 1 =wy 1 T 2 =wy 2 H=wc 2 2 2 2
66 =(60− S1 ) +60 − S1

w
2 2 2 2 2 2
S1 =23.7m
y 1 =S 1 + c y 2 =S2 +c

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Substitute S1 in eq.1:
S+ y S2 + y 2

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2 2 2
x =c ln ( ) x 2 =c ln( ) 60 =(23.7) +c
c c c =55.12m
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Let: d = distance of the lowest point below the lowest
EXAMPLE 5: end
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A cable 60 m long weighs 1500 N. The tensions at the

ends of the cable are 1500 N and 1650 N, respectively. d= y 1 − c
How far is the lowest point below the lowest end? d=60− 55.12 = 4.88m
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 2nd ENGINEERING CORPS QUALIFYING EXAMINATION
PARABOLIC AND CATENARY CABLES
Prepared by: Jared S. Cuchapin

47. Determine the allowable spacing of towers to carry 71. A transmission wire 230 meter long having a mass 79. An electric wire having a mass of 0.5 kg/m is strung
an aluminum cable weighing 0.03 kg per horizontal of 0.97 kg per linear meter is suspended between between two insulators at the same level and 50 m
meter if the maximum tension at the lowest point is towers of equal elevation 229 m apart. Find the apart. If the maximum tension in the wire is to be

a
not to exceed 1150 kg at a sag of 0.50 m. maximum tension. 80kg, determine the smallest value of the sag which
Answer: 391.578 m Answer: 6805.78 N maybe used. Assume the wire to be parabolic.

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Answer: 1.977 m

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w
m e
co rc
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eH y
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https://www.coursehero.com/file/25964616/SOLUTIONS-PARABOLIC-AND-CATENARY-CABLESpdf/
 2nd ENGINEERING CORPS QUALIFYING EXAMINATION
PARABOLIC AND CATENARY CABLES
Prepared by: Jared S. Cuchapin

85. A wire weighing 0.518 lb/ft is suspended between

two towers at the same level and 500 ft apart. If the 141. A pedestrian bridge has two suspension cables
sag is 50 ft, what should be the minimum length be? and flexible floor. The floor weighs 28 lbs per foot. The

a
Answer: 513.092 ft span of the bridge is 100 ft between the two end
supports. When the bridge is empty, the tension25 ft

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from the lowest point is 1500 lbs. What is the cable
sag?

d
Answer: 12 ft

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If you have reviewer books, try solving those problems.

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The more problems you solve.. the easier for you

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to analyze the next...next problems!

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