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Objectives In this course you will learn the following l Introduction to cables, how cables are different from other structural components. l Use of cables in structural systems

Introduction
Cables are flexible wire-like systems having no flexural (bending) stiffness, and they can carry only axial tension and no other type of force. Being fully flexible against bending the shape of a cable is determined by the external forces that are acting on the cable. Figure 3.1 illustrates how the shape of the cable between two supports A and B depends on the location and magnitude of the external forces and .

Figure 3.1 Shape of a cable is determined by external loads A cable is unable to carry bending moment, shear force, torsion or axial compression. Nevertheless, cables can be very effectively used in achieving long-span light-weight systems, such as bridges or roofs for large arenas. Two kinds of bridge structural systems where cables are used are the suspension-cable systems and cable-stayed systems . Figures 3.2 and 3.3 show examples of suspension-cable bridge and cable-stayed bridge, respectively Cables are usually made of multiple strands of cold-drawn high-strength steel wires twisted together. Generally, they have strength four to five times that of structural steel and practically inextensible under operating loading conditions. Since cables carry only axial tension, full potential of the cable cross-section can be utilized in transferring forces. Therefore, cables are able to carry the same amount of force with a much smaller cross-section compared to other structural systems. This high strength-to-weight ratio makes cables very useful where light-weight systems are needed. On the other hand, a beam over a very long span would require a very large (and deep) cross-section, and most of its potential will be used in carrying internal forces due to its own weight. If we use cables replacing this beam or in combination with a beam in stead, a lighter structure will be required, whose self-weight will not add significantly to load effects. The primary disadvantage with cables is due to their flexible geometry. As the loading on a cable system changes (as in the case of moving loads on a bridge) there can also be large change in the cable geometry, and subsequently on forces acting in the cable. Unexpected forces may destabilize a cable system, causing excessive deformations. A designer should be very careful on this regard while designing a cable system, along with other issues such as, large forces at the anchors, large oscillations, etc Objectives In this course you will learn the following Statement and derivation for the general cable theorem

3.2

The General Cable Theorem

The general cable theorem helps us determine the shape of a cable supported at two ends when it is acted upon by vertical forces. It can be stated as: At any point on a cable acted upon by vertical loads, the product of the horizontal component of cable tension and the vertical distance from that point to the cable chord equals the moment which would occur at that section if the loads carried by the cable were acting on an simply-supported beam of the same span as that of the cable.

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Figure 3.4 Explanation of the general cable theorem: (a) Cable under vertical loads, and (b) Simply supported beam with equal span under the same set of loads To explain, let us consider the cable AB in Figure 3.4a, which is acted upon by the vertical loads , , and at known locations. The line AB joining the two supports is known as the chord of the cable and the horizontal distance between the supports is known as its span . The vertical distance between the chord and the cable at any cross section is known as the dip . This is vertical distance that is mentioned in the general cable theorem . The cable in Figure 3.4a has a span L and the dip at a distance x from A is y . The horizontal reactions at supports A and B have to be equal to satisfy static equilibrium, and let it be H . The vertical reactions at supports A and B are and , respectively. Figure 3.4b shows a simply-supported beam AB of same span ( L ) and acted upon by the same set of forces as the cable AB in Figure 3.4a. For moment equilibrium about support B for the cable: (3.1) where, is the summation of moments due to external forces ( , , and ) about point B . Since the cable is totally flexible against bending, bending moment at any cross-section is zero. By equating bending moment at a distance x from A to zero, we get: (3.2a) or, where, Substituting is the summation of moments due to external forces ( from Equations 3.1 and 3.2b: , , and (3.2b) to the left of x ) about section x .

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(3.3) Now, let us consider the simply-supported beam in Figure 3.4b. From moment equilibrium about support B , we get the vertical reaction at support A :

(3.4) So, the bending moment at a distance x from A is:

(3.5) which, is same as the right side of Equation 3.3. Therefore:

Moment at x for the simply-supported beam


which is the claim as per the general cable theorem .

(3.6)

Note that the horizontal component of the axial force at any section of a cable (under vertical external forces only) is same as the horizontal reaction ( H ) at the end supports. This can be proved considering the equilibrium of horizontal forces on any segment of the cable. We can solve internal forces in a cable using the general cable theorem, and also we can obtain for the shape of the cable. If the cable length (not the span) is known to us, we can express this length in terms of the dip y . Using this information along with the general cable theorem we can solve for both the unknowns H and y . Alternatively, the dip at a certain point, instead of the total length of the cable, may be known to us. This information, along with the general cable theorem helps us solve for both H and y .

Objectives In this course you will learn the following Use of the general cable theorem for cables with distributed loading

3.3

Application of the General Cable Theorem for Distributed Loading

We have seen that we can apply the general cable theorem to find the cable geometry under vertical loading cases. The theorem also applies for distributed loading, since bending moment definitions for the corresponding simply-supported beam ( and ) do not change. For a cable under uniformly distributed load w , we have:

(3.7) Let us consider the specific case of a cable AB under uniformly distributed loading w , with the cable's supports being at the same horizontal level (Figure 3.5). Note that the system is symmetric about its mid-span where the cable has its maximum dip. Let the span of the cable be L and its dip at the mid-span (point C ) be . We can find, from the equilibrium of vertical forces and from symmetry, that the vertical support reactions at both A and B are wL/2. Now, applying the general cable theorem (Equation 3.7) at point C , we get:

(3.8)

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Figure 3.5 Free body diagram of a cable under uniformly distributed load Due to symmetry, we can see that the cable tension (axial force) is horizontal at the mid-span. This can be observed also if we draw the free body diagram of either the right or the left half of the cable (Figure 3.6).

Figure 3.6 Free body diagram of the right half (CB) of the cable We can also use Equation 3.8 to define a general shape of the cable in terms of the mid-span dip, (horizontal) distance x from the left support now is: . Thus, the dip y at a

(3.9) Let T be the axial tension in the cable at a distance x . This axial tension acts along the tangent of the cable geometry. Let us measure the length of the cable by s , which is measured along the cable curve. Therefore

(3.10) dy / dx is the slope of the cable and it can be obtained from Equation 3.9 which defines the shape of the cable. Substituting in Equation 3.10, we get:

(3.11) This equation also shows that the maximum tension occurs at the end supports, that is at x = 0 and x = L , which is also where the slope of the cable is maximum. The minimum tension occurs at the mid-span and is equal to H . The shape, as defined in Equation in 3.9, can be used obtain the total length of the cable ( S ) as well.

(3.12) The expression simplifies if the dip becomes very small compared to the span, that is,

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(3.13) One should remember that Equations 3.8 to 3.12 are valid for only cables with both end supports at the same horizontal level. The shape of a flexible cable supported at two ends and hanging only under its self-weight is known as a catenary . It is the shape that a cable attains under uniformly distributed vertical load (self-weight, in this case). Therefore, the shape of the cable should be a parabola as per Equation 3.9 and this was what Galileo claimed. However, Leibniz and other scientists later found the proper equation for a catenary to be different from a parabola. This is because the self-weight of the cable is uniform along its curved length and not along its span. The distributed loading w that we have considered for obtaining Equation 3.9 is uniform along the span ( x ) and not along its curved shape ( s ). The equation of a catenary is:

(3.14) We will use Equation 3.9 for loads uniformly distributed along span, but not for self-weight. For cases, where the externally applied load is much larger than the cable self weight, the assumption of a parabolic shape holds good.

Objectives In this course you will learn the following Some examples of cable systems Example 3.1 A 35 m cable is supported at ends A and B which are at the same horizontal level and are 25 m apart. A vertical load of 25 kN is acting at point C which is at a distance of 9 m from A . Find the horizontal reaction at A and the dip at C .

If the dip at point C is

, then applying the general cable theorem, we get:

Where Therefore

and

The other equation based on total length of the cable is

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Note: Using the static equilibrium conditions we can find that:

Example 3.2 A light cable (that is, self weight of cable is negligible compared to external loads) is carrying uniformly distributed load of 30 kN / m . The span of the cable is 75 m and its length is 77 m , where the supports are at same horizontal level. What will be the percentage change in minimum tension if there is a rise of temperature by 35 C? Coefficient of thermal expansion of the cable material is (12 10 -6 / C). Solution: if is the dip at mid point, then using equation 3.13

Change in length due to temperature rise

Differentiating equation 3.13, we get:

Differentiating equation 3.8

decrease This is the change in horizontal reaction, that is, in minimum tension in the cable

Objectives In this course you will learn the following Some tutorial problems related to this module TUTORIAL PROBLEMS A light cable with span 40m is under uniformly distributed load of 1 kN / m . If the support are at the same level and the T3.1 maximum tension allowed in the cable is 30 kN . what is the maximum allowable dip of the cable?

T3.2

Find the tension in the cable at point B for the cable shown in Figure T3.1.

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Answers of tutorial problems T3.1 8.94 m T3.2 74.56 kN

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