Cables

Theory of Structure - I

CED, UET, Taxila 1

Contents
 Introduction to Cables

 Cables subjected to concentrated loads

 Cables subjected to uniformly distributed

loads

CED, UET, Taxila 2

Introduction
 Cables are pure tension members.
 Used as
 Supports to suspension roofs
 Suspension bridges
 Trolley wheels
 Self weight of cable is neglected in analysis
of above structures
 When used as guys for antennas or
transmission lines, weight is considered.
CED, UET, Taxila 3
Cable Subjected to Concentrated Loads
Ay

A Ax
q q TCD
D D
yC yC
yD yD
B B
C C
P1 P1
P2 P2
L1 L2 L3 L1 L2 L3
L L

+ S MA = 0: y y
Obtain TCD
TBA
TCD
B
TCB C x
x
+ SF = 0: TBC
x
P2 P1
CED, UET, Taxila + SFy = 0: 4
Example 5-1

Determine the tension in each segment of the cable shown in the figure below.
Also, what is the dimension h ?

2m
h D
B
C 2m

3 kN
8 kN
2m 2m 1.5 m

CED, UET, Taxila 5

 SOLUTION Ay
Ax A
TCD
2m
h D5 4
B 3
C

3 kN
8 kN
2m 2m 1.5 m

+ SMA = 0:

TCD(3/5)(2 m) + TCD(4/5)(5.5 m) - 3kN(2 m) - 8 kN(4 m) = 0

TCD = 6.79 kN

CED, UET, Taxila 6

 y
Joint C
TCD = 6.79 kN + SFx = 0: 6.79(3/5) - T cos q = 0
C 5 4
CB BC
TCB
qBC 3
x + SFy = 0: 6.79(4/5) - 8 + TCB sin qCB = 0
8 kN qBC = 32.3o TCB = 4.82 kN

y
Joint B
TBA
B 32.3o + SFx = 0: - TBA cos qBA + 4.82cos 32.3o = 0
qBA
x
TBC = 4.82 kN + SFy = 0: TBA sin qBA - 4.82sin 32.3o -3 = 0
3 kN
qBA = 53.8o TBA = 6.90 kN

h = 2tanqBA = 2tan53.8o = 2.74 m

CED, UET, Taxila 7

Cable Subjected to Distributed Load

y T

q
T
W
q
To x To
W
x=L
T cos q = To = FH = Constant

T sin q = W
dy W
 tan q 
dx To

CED, UET, Taxila 8

Parabolic Cable: Subjected to Linear Uniform distributed Load

wo = force / horizontal distance T wox

qx
y To
B
dy wx
 tan q  o
A dx To

wo x
x y dx
To
L
2
0
x wo x
y  C1
y wo x 2To
x
2 wo x 2
To 
2y
T
qx at x = L , T = TB = Tmax Tmax woL
To x
qB
Tmax  To  ( wo L)
2 2
x To
CED, UET, Taxila 9
 wo(Dx) Dx
2
y
T + DT
wo O q Dq
h Dy
q Ds
x T Dx
x
Dx
L

+ SFx = 0: -Tcosq + (T + DT) cos (q + Dq) = 0

+ SFy = 0: -Tsinq + wo(Dx) + (T + DT)sin (q + Dq) = 0

+ SMO = 0: wo(Dx)(Dx/2) - T cos qDy - T sinq(Dx) = 0

CED, UET, Taxila 10

Dividing each of these equations by Dx and taking the limit as Dx 0, and hence
Dy 0, Dq 0, and DT 0, we obtain

d (T cos q )
0 ----------(5-1)
dx
d (T sin q )
 wo ----------(5-2)
dx
dy
 tan q ----------(5-3)
dx

Integrating Eq. 5-1, where T = FH at x = 0, we have:

T cosq  FH ----------(5-4)

Integrating Eq. 5-2, where T sin q = 0 at x = 0, gives

T sin q  wo x ----------(5-5)

Dividing Eq. 5-5 Eq. 5-4 eliminates T. Then using Eq. 5-3, we can obtain the slope
at any point,

dy wo x
CED, UET, Taxila tan q   ----------(5-6) 11
dx FH
 Performing a second integration with y = 0 at x = 0 yields
wo 2
y x ----------(5-7)
2 FH

This is the equation of a parabola. The constant FH may be obtained by using the
boundary condition y = h at x = L. Thus,

wo L2
FH  ----------(5-8)
2h
Finally, substituting into Eq. 5-7 yeilds
h 2
y 2
x ----------(5-9)
L

From Eq. 5-4, the maximum tension in the cable occurs when q is maximum; i.e., at
x = L. Hence, from Eqs. 5-4 and 5-5,

Tmax  FH 2  ( wo L) 2 ----------(5-10)

Or, using Eq. 5-8, we can express Tmax in terms of wo, i.e.,

CED, UET, Taxila Tmax  wo L 1  ( L / 2h) 2 ----------(5-11) 12

Example 5-2

The cable shown supports a girder which weighs 12kN/m. Determine the tension
in the cable at points A, B, and C.

30 m

C
12 m
6m
B

CED, UET, Taxila 13

 SOLUTION

TA
30 m
qA
A y TC
qC
C
12 m
6m
B
x
wo = 12 kN/m

30 - L´ L´

x2 x1

CED, UET, Taxila 14

 y TC
qC
C dy1 12 x1
 tan q 
6m dx1 To
B
To x 12 x1
y1   dx1
wo = 12 kN/m To
L'
12 x1
12 L´ 6 dx1
0
To
L´ L´ 0
2
12 x1
6 + C1
x1 2To
0

12 L'2
6
2To

T 12x1 To  L'2 ----------(1)

q
To
CED, UET, Taxila 15
 TA

qA y
A dy2 12 x2
 tan q 
dx2 To
12 m
12 x2
y2   dx2
B To To
x
( 30 L ')
12 x2
wo = 12 kN/m 12  0
To
dx2

12 (30 - L´) 2
(30 - L´) 0
12 x2
12  + C2
30 - L´ 2To
0

x2
12(30  L' ) 2
12 
2To
12 x2 T
(30  L' ) 2 ----------(2)
1
q 2To
To
CED, UET, Taxila 16
 T

q y

y2
B To x
wo = 12 kN/m

12 x2
x2

x2

12 x2 T

q
CED, UET, Taxila 17
To
 To  L'2 ----------(1)

(30  L' ) 2 ----------(2)

1
2To

From (1) and (2), L´ = 12.43 m, To = 154.50 kN

TB = To = 154.50 kN

TC 12 L´ 12 (30 - L´ ) TA

qC qA
To To

TC  To  (12 L' ) 2
2

TA  To  [12(30  L' )]2

2

 (154.50) 2  (12 12.43) 2

 (154.50) 2  [12(30  12.43)]2
= 214.75 kN
CED, UET, Taxila = 261.39 kN 18
Practice Problems
 Chapter 5

 Structural Analysis by R. C. Hibbeler

 Examples and Exercise

CED, UET, Taxila 19

CED, UET, Taxila 20