PROBLEM 2.

108
A 750-kg crate is supported by three cables as shown. Determine the
tension in each cable.

SOLUTION

See Problem 2.105 for the figure and the analysis leading to the linear algebraic Equations (1), (2), and (3)
below:
−0.48TAB + 0.51948TAD = 0

0.8TAB + 0.88235TAC + 0.77922TAD − W = 0

−0.36TAB + 0.47059TAC − 0.35065TAD = 0

( )
Substituting W = ( 750 kg ) 9.81 m/s 2 = 7.36 kN in Equations (1), (2), and (3) above, and solving the
resulting set of equations using conventional algorithms, gives
TAB = 2.63 kN

TAC = 3.82 kN

TAD = 2.43 kN

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 PROBLEM 2.109
A force P is applied as shown to a uniform cone which is supported by
three cords, where the lines of action of the cords pass through the vertex
A of the cone. Knowing that P = 0 and that the tension in cord BE is
0.2 lb, determine the weight W of the cone.

SOLUTION

Note that because the line of action of each of the cords passes through the vertex A of the cone, the cords all
have the same length, and the unit vectors lying along the cords are parallel to the unit vectors lying along the
generators of the cone.

Thus, for example, the unit vector along BE is identical to the unit vector along the generator AB.

cos 45°i + 8j − sin 45°k

Hence: λ AB = λ BE =
65
 cos 45°i + 8 j − sin 45°k 
It follows that: TBE = TBE λ BE = TBE  
 65 

 cos 30°i + 8j + sin 30°k 

TCF = TCF λ CF = TCF  
 65 

 − cos15°i + 8 j − sin15°k 
TDG = TDG λ DG = TDG  
 65 

117
 PROBLEM 2.109 CONTINUED

At A: ΣF = 0: TBE + TCF + TDG + W + P = 0

Then, isolating the factors of i, j, and k, we obtain three algebraic equations:

TBE T T
i: cos 45° + CF cos 30° − DG cos15° + P = 0
65 65 65

or TBE cos 45° + TCF cos 30° − TDG cos15° + P 65 = 0 (1)

8 8 8
j: TBE + TCF + TDG −W = 0
65 65 65

65
or TBE + TCF + TDG − W =0 (2)
8

TBE T T
k: − sin 45° + CF sin 30° − DG sin15° = 0
65 65 65

or −TBE sin 45° + TCF sin 30° − TDG sin15° = 0 (3)

With P = 0 and the tension in cord BE = 0.2 lb:

Solving the resulting Equations (1), (2), and (3) using conventional methods in Linear Algebra (elimination,
matrix methods or iteration – with MATLAB or Maple, for example), we obtain:

TCF = 0.669 lb

TDG = 0.746 lb

W = 1.603 lb

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 PROBLEM 2.110
A force P is applied as shown to a uniform cone which is supported by
three cords, where the lines of action of the cords pass through the vertex
A of the cone. Knowing that the cone weighs 1.6 lb, determine the range
of values of P for which cord CF is taut.

SOLUTION

See Problem 2.109 for the Figure and the analysis leading to the linear algebraic Equations (1), (2), and (3)
below:

i : TBE cos 45° + TCF cos 30° − TDG cos15° + 65 P = 0 (1)

65
j: TBE + TCF + TDG − W =0 (2)
8

k : − TBE sin 45° + TCF sin 30° − TDG sin15° = 0 (3)

With W = 1.6 lb , the range of values of P for which the cord CF is taut can found by solving Equations (1),
(2), and (3) for the tension TCF as a function of P and requiring it to be positive (> 0).

Solving (1), (2), and (3) with unknown P, using conventional methods in Linear Algebra (elimination, matrix
methods or iteration – with MATLAB or Maple, for example), we obtain:

TCF = ( −1.729 P + 0.668 ) lb

Hence, for TCF > 0 −1.729 P + 0.668 > 0

or P < 0.386 lb

∴ 0 < P < 0.386 lb

119
 PROBLEM 2.111
A transmission tower is held by three guy wires attached to a pin at A and
anchored by bolts at B, C, and D. If the tension in wire AB is 3.6 kN,
determine the vertical force P exerted by the tower on the pin at A.

SOLUTION
The force in each cable can be written as the product of the magnitude of
the force and the unit vector along the cable. That is, with
JJJG
AC = (18 m ) i − ( 30 m ) j + ( 5.4 m ) k

AC = (18 m )2 + ( −30 m )2 + ( 5.4 m )2 = 35.4 m

JJJG
AC TAC
TAC = T λ AC = TAC = (18 m ) i − ( 30 m ) j + ( 5.4 m ) k 
AC 35.4 m 

TAC = TAC ( 0.5085i − 0.8475j + 0.1525k )

JJJG
and AB = − ( 6 m ) i − ( 30 m ) j + ( 7.5 m ) k

AB = ( −6 m )2 + ( −30 m )2 + ( 7.5 m )2 = 31.5 m

JJJG
AB TAB
TAB = T λ AB = TAB =  − ( 6 m ) i − ( 30 m ) j + ( 7.5 m ) k 
AB 31.5 m 

TAB = TAB ( −0.1905i − 0.9524 j + 0.2381k )

JJJG
Finally AD = − ( 6 m ) i − ( 30 m ) j − ( 22.2 m ) k

AD = ( −6 m )2 + ( −30 m )2 + ( −22.2 m )2 = 37.8 m

JJJG
AD TAD
TAD = T λ AD = TAD =  − ( 6 m ) i − ( 30 m ) j − ( 22.2 m ) k 
AD 37.8 m 

TAD = TAD ( −0.1587i − 0.7937 j − 0.5873k )

120
PROBLEM 2.111 CONTINUED

With P = Pj, at A:

ΣF = 0: TAB + TAC + TAD + Pj = 0

Equating the factors of i, j, and k to zero, we obtain the linear algebraic

equations:

i : − 0.1905TAB + 0.5085TAC − 0.1587TAD = 0 (1)

j: − 0.9524TAB − 0.8475TAC − 0.7937TAD + P = 0 (2)

k : 0.2381TAB + 0.1525TAC − 0.5873TAD = 0 (3)

In Equations (1), (2) and (3), set TAB = 3.6 kN, and, using conventional
methods for solving Linear Algebraic Equations (MATLAB or Maple,
for example), we obtain:

TAC = 1.963 kN

TAD = 1.969 kN

P = 6.66 kN

121