140 5 Cables

Thus (5.45a) for thrust H may be presented as

ql 1 ql 1 L0
H D p r D p s   ; ˇD : (5.46)
2 6 L0 .1 C "/ 2 6 H l
1 ˇ 1C 1
l EA

So for computation of the thrust H the equation (5.46) may be rewritten in the
following form
ˇ q2l 2
H 3 C .ˇ  1/H 2 D :
EA 24
This is noncomplete cubic equation with respect to H . Solution of this equation
for string .ˇ D 1/ is r
2 2
3 q l EA
H D : (5.46a)
24
The reader is invited to derive the following expression for sag of an gentile cable:

p s  
3 H
f D p l  ˇ 1C 1 (5.47)
2 2 EA

Hint. Use formula f D ql 2=8H (formula 5.10) and expression (5.46).

We can see that consideration of the elastic properties of a cable leads to the
nonlinear relationships H –q and f –H .
Limiting cases
1. In case of nondeformable cable .EA D 1/, formulas (5.46) and (5.47) coincide
with formulas (5.16c) and (5.16d) for the case of gentile cable carrying uniformly
distributed load.
2. If L0 D l then formulas (5.46a) and (5.47) lead to the following nonlinear rela-
tionships f –q W
r
l 3 3ql
f D (5.48)
4 EA

Problems

5.1. Design diagram of a cable is presented in Fig. P5.1. Supports A and B are
located on different elevations. Parameters of the system are: a1 D 10 m, a2 D
22 m, c D 3 m, l D 30 m, P1 D 18 kN, P2 D 15 kN.
Determine the thrust H of the cable, if total length of the cable L D 34 m.
Ans. H D 23:934 kN
Problems 141

B
A j c=3m
a0
a2
2
a1
1
P2=15kN
a1=10m P1=18kN
a2=22m
l=30m

Fig. P5.1

5.2. The cable is subjected to two concentrated forces P D 30 kN at joints E and

C , and unknown force N at joint D, as shown in Fig. P5.2. The thrust of the cable
structure is H D 60 kN. Determine the force N and corresponding shape of the
cable, if the portion CD of the cable is horizontal.

5m 5m 5m 5m
A

fE fC fD=fC 6m
E B
C D
P
P N

Fig. P5.2

Ans. N D 18 kN; fE D 5:0 m.

5.3. The cable with support points on the same levels has span l D 36 m is subjected
to uniformly distributed load q D 2 kN=m along horizontal projection of the cable.
The sag of the cable is f D 6 m. Determine the thrust of the cable H , maximum
axial tension Nmax and slope at the support.
Ans. H D 54 kN; Nmax D 64:89 kN

5.4. The cable with support points on the same levels has span l D 36 m and is
subjected to uniformly distributed load q D 2 kN=m along horizontal projection of
the cable. The thrust of the cable is H D 108 kN. Determine the sag of the cable,
maximum axial tension Nmax , and slope at the support.
Ans. f D 3 m; Nmax D 113:84 kN

5.5. The cable with support points on the same levels is subjected to uniformly
distributed load q along horizontal projection of the cable. The span of the cable
is l. If load q increases by two times, but the sag f remains the same, then
142 5 Cables

(a) Thrust H is (1) remains the same; (2) twice as much; (3) half as much
(b) Maximum axial force is (1) remains the same; (2) twice as much; (3) half as
much
(c) Slope at the support is (1) remains the same; (2) twice as much; (3) half as much

5.6. The cable with support points on the same elevation is subjected to uniformly
distributed load q along horizontal projection of the cable. The span of the cable is
l m. If load q increases by two times, but the thrust H remains the same, then
(a) Sag of the cable is (1) remains the same; (2) greater; (3) twice as much; (4) half
as much.
(b) Maximum axial force is (1) remains the same; (2) greater; (3) twice as much;
(4) half as much.
(c) Slope at the support is (1) remains the same; (2) greater; (3) twice as much; (4)
half as much.

5.7. The flexible inextensible cable with support points on the same levels is sub-
jected to uniformly distributed load q1 and q2 within the horizontal line, as shown
in Fig. P5.7; the span of the cable is l m and maximum sag is f . Calculate the thrust
of the cable. Consider limiting cases q1 D q2 and q2 D q1 .

q1
q2
H A B H

f
a b
l

Fig. P5.7

 2
q1 a2 C 2q2 bl  q2 b 2
Ans. H D
8q2 f l 2
5.8. The flexible inextensible cable with support points on the same elevation is
subjected to uniformly distributed load q within the horizontal line; the span of the
cable is l m. Derive expression for maximum tension Nmax in terms of sag-to-span
ratio ˛ D f=l.
ql 1 p
Ans. Nmax D 1 C 16˛ 2
8 ˛
5.9. A uniform cable of weight q0 per unit length is suspended between two points
at the same elevation and a distance l apart. Let the maximum axial force Nmax and
total weight of the cable W be related as Nmax D kW , where k is any positive
number.
Problems 143

(a) Derive equation, which connects parameters q0 , l, H , and k

(b) Calculate the sag–span ratio for which the maximum tension in the cable is
equal to 0.75 of the total weight of the entire cable and corresponding value of
maximum tension Nmax .
q0 l
Ans. (a) .4k 2  1/ sinh2 D 1; (b) 0.2121, Nmax D 0:8337q0l
2H
5.10. A uniform cable of weight q0 per unit length, is suspended between two points
at the same elevation and a distance l apart. Determine the sag–span ratio, for which
the maximum tension is as small as possible.
f
Ans. l
D 0:3377

5.11. A uniform cable of weight q0 per unit length is suspended between two points
at the same elevation and a distance l apart. The sag of the cable, total length, and
thrust are denoted as f , L, and H , respectively. Calculate the maximum tensile
force. Present the result in three following forms (1) in terms of H , q0 , l; (2) in
terms of H , q0 , f ; (3) in terms of H , q0 , L
s  
q0 l q0 L 2
Ans. (1) Nmax DH cosh ; (2) Nmax Dq0 f C H ; (3) Nmax DH 1C
2H 2H

5.12. Design diagram of flexible cable with support points A and B on different
levels, is presented in Fig. P5.12. The cable is subjected to linearly distributed load
q. At the middle point C the sag is f D 4:5 m. Find the shape of the cable, thrust,
and calculate distribution of internal forces. Parameters of the system are: l D 60 m,
c D 12 m, q D 2:0 kN=m. Use the concept of the reference beam.

NA q
aA A
H NB
c
B aB
RA H

l
RB

Fig. P5.12

Ans. H D 100 kN, NA D 107:76 kN, NB D 101:83 kN, RA D 40 kN, RB D

20 kN