y

Hanging Cables
Take origin at lowest point.
x
Consider a portion of cable
T
At point (x,y) there is
(x,y)
a tension force T
tangential to the cable
H

At lowest point of cable,

a horizontal force H acts At centre of mass
to stop the cable moving W(x) of cable a weight
to the right force W acts
 T

(x,y) 

W(x)
Since system is in horizontal and vertical equilibrium

T cos θ  H T sin θ  W
W
Thus tan θ 
H
dy W
As the gradient at (x,y) is given by tan θ 
dx H
 dy W
 (x,y) 
dx H

W(x)

But W varies as x changes, so differentiating

d 2 y 1 dW Fundamental
2

dx H dx Equation
The catenary
A flexible rope of constant density hangs between two
points. Determine its shape.

Let w be the mass per unit length of the rope

dW
 w where s is the length of rope
ds
d 2 y 1 dW
The fundamental equation is 2

dx H dx
dW dW ds ds
But  w
dx ds dx dx
d 2 y w ds
The fundamental equation becomes 2

dx H dx
 Short section
Consider a short section of cable,
of cable ds
so short that it is effectively a
straight line dy

dx
By Pythagoras : ds 2  dx 2  dy 2
2 2
 ds   1   dy 
   
 dx   dx 

2
ds  dy 
 1  
dx  dx 
 d 2 y w ds
Fundamental equation 2

dx H dx

2
d2y w  dy 
Becomes  1   
dx 2 H  dx 

Taking the origin at the lowest point

what are the initial conditions?
y (0)  0
y(0)  0
 2
d2y w  dy 
Solve  1   y(0)  0 y (0)  0
dx 2 H  dx 

dy
Step 1 : Set p 
dx

dp w p(0)  0
Solve  1 p2
dx H
Separate variables
dp w
 1 p 2

H  dx
w
arcsinh p  xc
H
Since p(0)  0, c  0

w
arcsinh p  x
H

w
p  sinh x
H
 dy
Step 2 : Set p 
dx
dy w
Solve  sinh x y (0)  0
dx H
Separate variables and integrate
w
 dy   sinh H
xdx

H w
y  cosh x  c
w H
H
y (0)  0  0   c
w
H w 
y   cosh x  1
w H 
What is the length of the cable?
H w 
Equation of Catenary y   cosh x  1
w H 
2
ds  dy 
We have  1  
dx  dx 

dy w
 sinh x
dx H

ds w
 1 sinh 2 x
dx H
w
 cosh x
H
 ds w
 cosh x
dx H

Separate variables and integrate

w
 ds   cosh H xdx
H w
s sinh xc
w H
If we measure arc length from the origin s(0)  0
H w
s  sinh x
w H
 H w 
H w y   cosh x  1
s  sinh x w H 
w H

L H Lw
At x  s  sinh D
2 w 2H

2H Lw
Total length S sinh L
w 2H

H w 
From the equation y  cosh x  1
w H 
H Lw 
D  cosh  1
w 2H 
H Lw 
Droop   cosh  1
w 2H 
 H w 
y   cosh x  1
2H Lw w H 
Total length S sinh
w 2H
D
H Lw 
Droop   cosh  1
w 2H 
L

If we want a cable to span a distance L

Knowing the two properties of the cable, weight density
and the tension that it can withstand
We can work out the length of cable required and the
droop of the cable.