MODULE 2:

ANALYSIS OF STATICALLY
DETERMINATE STRUCTURES

Structural Theory
CEng 135

Engr. MARCELO T. ABRERA, Jr.

Instructor
 LESSON 2.7

CABLES: PART 3
CATENARY CABLE

Structural Theory
CEng 135

Engr. MARCELO T. ABRERA, Jr.

Instructor
CABLES: PART 3 CATENARY CABLE

2 CASES OF CABLE PROBLEMS

1. CABLES SUBJECTED TO CONCENTRATED LOADS

2. CABLES SUBJECTED TO UNIFORMLY DISTRIBUTED LOADS

a. PARABOLIC CABLE
b. CATENARY CABLE
CABLES: PART 3 CATENARY CABLE

1. CABLES SUBJECTED TO CONCENTRATED LOADS

CABLES: PART 3 CATENARY CABLE

2. CABLES SUBJECTED TO UNIFORMLY DISTRIBUTED LOADS

a. PARABOLIC CABLE
- loads are distributed
horizontally (e.g. Suspension
Bridge)

- takes the form of a

parabola.
CABLES: PART 3 CATENARY CABLE

2. CABLES SUBJECTED TO UNIFORMLY DISTRIBUTED LOADS

b. CATENARY CABLE
- the uniformly distributed load is
acting along the length of the
cable.

- a cable subjected to its own

weight and free of any other
loads.

- takes the form of a catenary

curve.
CABLES: PART 3 CATENARY CABLE

2. CABLES SUBJECTED TO UNIFORMLY DISTRIBUTED LOADS

b. CATENARY CABLE
CABLES: PART 3 CATENARY CABLE

CATENARY CABLE
SYMMETRICAL UNSYMMETRICAL
CATENARY CABLE CATENARY CABLE
 CABLES: PART 3 CATENARY CABLE

CATENARY CABLE

w = weight per unit length

𝑇𝐴 , 𝑇𝐵 = 𝑇𝑒𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑎𝑡 𝑠𝑢𝑝𝑝𝑜𝑟𝑡𝑠
H = 𝑇𝑒𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑎𝑡 𝑙𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑠𝑡 𝑝𝑜𝑖𝑛𝑡
(𝑇𝐷 )
𝑆 = 𝑆𝐴 + 𝑆𝐵 = 𝑙𝑒𝑛𝑔𝑡ℎ 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑐𝑎𝑏𝑙𝑒
CABLES: PART 3 CATENARY CABLE

SYMMETRICAL CATENARY CABLE

𝐻
𝑐=
𝑤

𝑇 = 𝑤𝑦

𝑥
𝑆 = 𝑐 sin ℎ
𝑐

𝑦2 = 𝑐2 + 𝑠2
CABLES: PART 3 CATENARY CABLE

UNSYMMETRICAL CATENARY CABLE

𝐻
𝑐=
𝑤

𝑇𝐴 = 𝑤𝑦𝐴 𝑇𝐵 = 𝑤𝑦𝐵

𝑥𝐴 𝑥𝐵
𝑆𝐴 = 𝑐 sin ℎ 𝑆𝐵 = 𝑐 sin ℎ
𝑐 𝑐

𝑦𝐴 2 = 𝑐 2 + 𝑆𝐴 2 𝑦𝐵 2 = 𝑐 2 + 𝑆𝐵 2
CABLES: PART 2 PARABOLIC CABLE

EXAMPLE PROBLEM 1
A catenary cable shown has a weight of 215.82 N/m. It has a tension of 300 kN at its
lowest point in the cable.
a. Find the sag of the cable, in m.
b. Find the tension at B, in kN.
c. Find the total length of the cable, in m.
CABLES: PART 3 CATENARY CABLE

SYMMETRICAL CATENARY CABLE

𝐻
𝑐=
𝑤

𝑇 = 𝑤𝑦

𝑥
𝑆 = 𝑐 sin ℎ
𝑐

𝑦2 = 𝑐2 + 𝑠2
CABLES: PART 2 PARABOLIC CABLE

EXAMPLE PROBLEM 1
A catenary cable shown has a weight of 215.82 N/m. It has a tension of 300 kN at its
lowest point in the cable.
a. Find the sag of the cable, in m.
b. Find the tension at B, in kN.
c. Find the total length of the cable, in m.
CABLES: PART 2 PARABOLIC CABLE

EXAMPLE PROBLEM 2
The uniform cable weighing 15 N/m is suspended from points A and B. The force in
the cable at B is known to be 500 N.
a. Find the tension at A, in N.
b. Find the horizontal distance between A and B, in m.
c. Find the length of the cable, in m.
CABLES: PART 3 CATENARY CABLE

UNSYMMETRICAL CATENARY CABLE

𝐻
𝑐=
𝑤

𝑇𝐴 = 𝑤𝑦𝐴 𝑇𝐵 = 𝑤𝑦𝐵

𝑥𝐴 𝑥𝐵
𝑆𝐴 = 𝑐 sin ℎ 𝑆𝐵 = 𝑐 sin ℎ
𝑐 𝑐

𝑦𝐴 2 = 𝑐 2 + 𝑆𝐴 2 𝑦𝐵 2 = 𝑐 2 + 𝑆𝐵 2
CABLES: PART 2 PARABOLIC CABLE

EXAMPLE PROBLEM 2
The uniform cable weighing 15 N/m is suspended from points A and B. The force in
the cable at B is known to be 500 N.
a. Find the tension at A, in N.
b. Find the horizontal distance between A and B, in m.
c. Find the length of the cable, in m.
CABLES

COURSEWORK 3/ SEATWORK 1
A cable, 200 ft long and weighing 300 lbs is fixedly attached to two towers A (left)
and B (right). The tensions at the end supports are 330 lbs and 360 lbs, respectively.
a Determine the difference in elevation between the supports, in ft.
b Determine the length of the cable from tower A to lowest point in the cable,
in ft.
c Determine the length of the cable from tower B to lowest point in the cable,
in ft.
d Determine the minimum tension in the cable, in lbs.
e Determine the distance between the two towers, in ft.
f Determine the horizontal distance from tower A to the lowest point in the
cable, in ft.
g Determine the horizontal distance from tower B to the lowest point in the
cable, in ft.
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