CABLES

When a flexible cable or cord is suspended between two points of support and is subjected to a
distributed loading, the cable or cord will assume the form of a curve dependent on the nature of the
distribution of the load.
Parabolic Cables
If a flexible wire cable is suspended over two supports and where most of the loads are distributed
horizontally as in a suspension bridge, the cable assumes the shape of a parabolic cable.
Unsymmetrical Cables
L
x1 x2
T2
B
T1 A
y2
y1
C

w (N/m)

x12 x22
=
y1 y2
The solution is to cut a segment from the support to the lowest point of the cable, with three forces
involved, the weight of the cable, the tension at the support, and the tension at the lowest point.
Cutting segment AC
x
x/2 x/2
T
W
T W
A θ
y
H H
C

w (N/m)

W = wx
[Σ MA = 0]
H (y) = W (x / 2)
w x2
H =
2y
From the force polygon
T2 = W2 + H2
 W y
tan θ = =
H x/2
T sin θ = W

Symmetrical Cables
L
L/2 L/2
T A B T

d
C

w (N/m)

Tension at C
w L2
H =
8d
Tension at A
2
wL
2
T = H +
2
Length of cable, S
Exact
L2 4d
S = [m k + ln (m + k)] ; m = ; k = 1 + m2
8d L
Approximate
8 d2 32 d4
S = L+ –
3L 5 L3
Note:
If L / d > 10 - - - Parabolic cable
Examples
1. A parabolic cable, shown in the figure, caries a uniform horizontal load of 20 kN/m.
a. Compute the value of ‘a’.
b. Compute the tension of the cable at A.
c. Compute the tension of the cable at C.

20 kN/m

B
12 m
6m
C

a b

30 m
Solution
W = 20 (a)
TA 20 (30 – a)
a/2

A (30 – a)/2

12 m B
6m
C C
TC TC
a 30 – a

Value of ‘a’
[Σ MA = 0]
TC (12) = 20 (a)( ½ a) = 0.8333 a2
[Σ MB = 0]
TC (6) = 20 (30 – a)[(30 – a) / 2] = 0.8333 a2
TC (6) = 10 (30 – a)2
TC = 1.6667 (30 – a)2
Equate
0.8333 a2 = 1.6667 (30 – a)2
0.913 a = 1.291 (30 – a)
0.913 a = 38.73 – 1.291 a
a = 17.573 m
Tension at A
TA
TC = 0.8333 (17.573)2 = 257.33 kN 351.46 kN
W = 20 (17.573) = 351.46 kN
TA = (257.33)2 + (351.46)2 = 435.595 kN 257.33 kN
 Tension at B
TB
TC = 257.33 kN 248.54 kN
W = 20 (30 – 17.573) = 248.54 kN
257.33 kN
TB = (257.33)2 + (248.54)2 = 357.758 kN
2. An unsymmetrical cable 200 m span has a rise from the low point of 5 m at one end and 10 m at
the other end. If the safe strength of the cable is 10000 kg, find the load that can be distributed
uniformly in a horizontal direction and supported by the cable.

w kg/m

A
10 m
5m

x 200 – x

200 m
Solution W2 = w (200 – x)
W1 = w x
(200 – x)/2
x/2 T2 = 10000 kg
B

T1 A 10 m
5m
H H

x 200 – x
[Σ MA = 0]
H (5) = w x ( ½ x)
w x2
H =
10
[Σ MB = 0]
H (10) = w (200 – x)[(200 – x) / 2]
w (200 – x)2
H =
20
Equate
w x2 w (200 – x)2
=
10 20
2 x = (200 – x)2
2

1.4142 x = 200 – x
x = 82.84 m
(200 – x) = 117.16 m
 w (200 – 82.84)2
H = = 686.32 w T2 = 10000 kg
20 117.16 w

W = w (200 – 82.84) = 117.16 w

686.32 w
From force polygon
(117.16 w)2 + (686.32 w)2 = (10000)2
484761.608 w2 = 100000000
w = 14.36 kg/m
3. The floor of a suspension bridge is 120 m long and 6 m wide and is supported by a cable on each
side having a sag of 8 m. The bridge carries a load of 4800 N per square meter of floor area.
Solve for the tension at the middle, the tension at the ends, and the length of the cables.
Solution
Total load on one cable
4800 N/m2 (20 m)
w = = 48000 N/m = 48 kN/m
2

120 m
60 m 60 m
T A B T

8m
C

48 kN/m

Tension at the middle

w L2 48 kN/m (120 m)2
H = = = 10800 kN
8d 8 (8 m)
Tension at the ends
2
48 (120)
2
T = (10800) + = 11177.41 kN
2
Length of cable S
8 d2 32 d4
S = L+ –
3L 5 L3
8 (8)2 32 (8)4
S = 120 + – = 121.41 m
3 (120) 5 (120)3
4. A cable which has a unit weight of 5 N/m is supported at both ends by poles with a span of 200 m.
If the tension at the supports is 9800 N, what is the maximum sag?
Solution
Assume that the cable is parabolic
5 N/m

T = 9800 N T = 9800 N

A B
d d

100 m 100 m
200 m

W = 500 N
50

T = 9800 N

A
d
H

100 m
[Σ MA = 0]
H (d) = 500 (50)
9800 N
25000 500 N
H =
d
25000 / d
From force triangle
2
25000
(9800)2 = (500)2 +
d
d = 2.55 m ; L / d = 200 / 2.55 = 78.43 > 10
- - - Assumption is justified!
Using formula
2
wL w L2
T 2 = H2 + ; H =
2 8d
2 2 2
wL wL
T2 = +
8d 2
2 2 2
5 (200) 5 (200)
(9800)2 = +
8d 2
2
25000
95790000 =
d
d = 2.55 m
CE Board May 2016
The suspended girder shown is supported by a series of hangers, uniformly spaced along a parabolic
cable.
a. What is the tension in the cable at the mid-span, point B, whose slope is zero?
b. What is the vertical reaction at support A?
c. What is the resulting sag, ‘y’ if the maximum tension in the cable is 300 kN?
Solution
24 m
T A C T

3m y
B

w = 15 kN/m
W = 15 (12) = 180 kN
Tension in the cable at point B 6m
[Σ MA = 0] T
A
H (3) = 180 (6) 3m
H = 360 kN H
Or, 12 m
w L2 15 (24)2
H = = = 360 kN
8d 8 (3)
Vertical reaction at support A
2 R = 15 (24)
24 m
R = 180 kN R R
Sag ‘y’ when the tension in the cable is 300 kN
H2 = (300)2 – (180)2
T = 300 kN W = 180 kN
H = 240 kN
A 300
[Σ MA = 0] y 180
240 (y) = 180 (6) H
240
y = 4.5 m 6m 6m

CE Board May 2017

The water supply pipe shown is suspended from a cable using a series of close and equal spaced
hangers. The length of the pipe supported by the cable is 60 m. The total weight of the pipe filled with
water is 6.5 kN/m.
a. What is the maximum sag at the lowest point of the cable which occurs at mid-length if the
allowable tensile load in the cable is 2550 kN?
b. The sag of the cable at mid-length is 3 m. Find the maximum axial stress (MPa) if the cable
diameter is 75 mm.
c. The sag of the cable at mid-length is 2 m. If the allowable tensile load in the cable is 2000 kN,
how much additional load can the cable carry?
 A B

w = 6.5 kN/m

60 m
Solution
Maximum sag at the lowest point when allowable tensile load in the cable is 2550 kN
H2 = (2550)2 – (195)2 W = 6.5 (30) = 195 kN
T = 2550 kN
H = 2542.533 kN
A 2550
[Σ MA = 0] y 195
2542.533 (y) = 195 (15) H
H
y = 1.15 m 15 m 15 m
Maximum axial stress if the sag at mid-length is 3 m and the cable diameter is 75 mm
[Σ MA = 0]
H (3) = 195 (15) W = 6.5 (30) = 195 kN
H = 975 kN T
A T
T2 = (195)2 + (975)2 3m 195
T = 994.31 kN H
975
T 994.31 kN 15 m 15 m
σ = =
A π
⁄4 (0.075 m)2
σ = 225065.74 kN/m2 = 225.07 MPa
Additional load that the cable can carry if the sag is 2 m and the allowable tensile load
in the cable is 2000 kN
[Σ MA = 0] T = 2000 kN W = w (30) = 30 w
H (2) = 30 w (15) A
2m 2000
H = 225 w 30 w
H
(2000)2 = (30 w)2 + (225 w)2
15 m 15 m 225 w
51525 w2 = 4000000
w = 8.81 kN/m
wadditional = 8.81 – 6.5 = 2.31 kN/m
Catenary
When the cable sags due to its own weight, the cable assumes the shape of a catenary which is the
graph of the equation y = cosh x.
Unsymmetrical T2
y
T1
S2
S1

y1 y2
w (N/m) c y
x
x

Tension at lowest point

H = wc
Tension at the supports
T1 = w y1 T2 = w y1
T1 = H2 + (w S1)2 T2 = H2 + (w S2)2
y12 = S12 + c2 y12 = S22 + c2
S 1 + y1 S 2 + y2
x1 = c ln x1 = c ln
c c
Symmetrical
L

T y T

S S

y y
w (N/m)
c
x
x

Tension at lowest point

H = wc
Tension at the supports
T = wy
T 1 = w S2 + c2
y 2 = S 2 + c2
S+y
x = c ln
c
Note:
If L / d ≤ 10 - - - Catenary
Examples
1. A cable 300 m long weighs 600 kg. The tensions at the ends of the cable are 400 kg and 446 kg.
Find:
a. The difference in elevation of the two ends.
b. The difference in elevation between the lowest point and the lowest support.
c. The span of the cable.
T2 = 446 kg

y T1 = 400 kg
S2 h
S1

y1 y2
w (N/m) c

x1 x2

Difference in elevation of the two ends

y = y 2 – y1 ; T1 = w y1 ; w = 600 / 300 = 2 kg/m
400 kg = 2 kg/m (y 1)
y 1 = 200 m
T 2 = w y2
446 kg = 2 kg/m (y 2)
y 2 = 223 m
y = 223 – 200 = 23 m
Difference in elevation between the lowest point and the lowest support
h = y1 – c ; c2 = y12 – S12
c 2 = (200)2 – S12
c 2 = y22 – S22
c 2 = (223)2 – S22
Equate:
(200) 2 – S12 = (223)2 – S22
S22 – S12 = (223)2 – (200)2
S22 – S12 = 9729 ; S1 + S2 = 300
S 1 = 300 – S2
S22 – (300 – S2)2 = 9729
S22 – (90000 – 600 S2 + S22) = 9729
S22 – 90000 + 600 S2 – S22 = 9729
600 S2 = 99729
S2 = 166.215 m
c 2 = (223)2 – (166.215)2
c = 148.666 m
h = 200 – 148.666 = 51.334 m
Span of the cable
S 1 + y1
x1 = c ln ; S1 = 300 – 166.215 = 133.785 m
c
 133.785 + 200
x1 = 148.666 ln = 120.24 m
148.666
S 2 + y2
x2 = c ln
c
166.215 + 223
x2 = 148.666 ln = 143.08 m
148.666
L = 120.24 + 143.08 = 263.32 m

2. A cable whose supports have different elevations spans 520 m. The cable weighs 15.65 N/m and
the maximum tension is 15385 N. If the difference in elevation is 58 m, find the length of the cable.
L = 520 m
T1 = 15385 N

58 m
S1 S2 T2

y1 y2
15.65 N/m
c

x1 x2

T1 = w y1 ; T1 = 15385 N
15385 = 15.65 y1
y1 = 983.067 m
y2 = 983.067 – 58 = 925.067 m
y12 = S12 + c2
S1 = y12 – c2 - - - eq. 1
y22 = S22 + c2
S2 = y22 – c2 - - - eq. 2
S 1 + y1
x1 = c ln - - - eq. 3
c
S 2 + y2
x2 = c ln - - - eq. 4
c
x 1 + x2 = L - - - eq. 5
Substitute eq. 1, eq. 2, eq. 3, and eq. 4 in eq. 5

y12 – c + y1 y22 – c + y2
c ln + c ln = 520
c c
 (983.067)2 – c + 983.067 (925.067)2 – c + 925.067
c ln + c ln = 520
c c
By Trial and Error
Try c = 80 m
(983.067)2 – 80 + 983.067 (925.067)2 – 80 + 925.067
80 ln + 80 ln = 507.419
80 80
Try c = 90 m
(983.067)2 – 90 + 983.067 (925.067)2 – 90 + 925.067
90 ln + 90 ln = 549.675
90 90
Interpolate:

x 80 - 507.419 12.581
10 c - 520 42.256
90 - 549.675

x 12.581
=
10 42.256
x = 2.977
c = 80 + 2.977 = 82.977
Subst. c in eq. 1
S1 = (983.067)2 – (82.977)2 = 979.56 m
Subst. c in eq. 2
S2 = (925.067)2 – (82.977)2 = 921.34 m
Length of the cable
S = 979.56 + 921.34 = 1900.90 m

3. A cable weighing 60 N/m is suspended between two supports on the same level and 300 m apart.
The sag is 60 m. Compute the maximum tension and the length of the cable.
L = 300 m

T y T

S S

y y
w (N/m)
c
x
x

x = ½ (300) = 150 m
y = c + 60 - - - eq. 1
y 2 = S 2 + c2
(c + 60)2 = S2 + c2
 c2 + 120 c + 3600 = S2 + c2
S2 = 120 c + 3600
S = 120 c + 3600 - - - eq. 2
S+y
x = c ln - - - eq. 3
c
Substitute eq. 1, and eq. 2 in eq. 3
120 c + 3600 + c + 60
150 = c ln
c
By Trial and Error
To obtain a first trial value for c, consider the cable as a parabolic cable.
H L2 (300)2
c = = = = 187.50 m
w 8d 8 (60)
120 (187.50) + 3600 + 187.50 + 60
146.263 = 187.50 ln
187.50
Try c = 200
120 (200) + 3600 + 200 + 60
151.287 = 200 ln
200
Interpolate:
187.5 - 146.263
x 3.737
12.5 c - 150 5.024
200 - 151.287
x 3.737
=
12.5 5.024
x = 9.298
c = 187.5 + 9.298 = 196.798
Subst. c in eq. 1
y = 196.798 + 60 = 256.798 m
T = w y = 60 N/m (256.798 m) = 15407.88 N
Subst. c in eq. 2
S = 120 (196.798) + 3600 = 164.972 m
Length of the cable
2 S = 2 (164.972) = 329.944 say 330 m
4. A uniform cable 180 m long, weighing 60 N per lineal meter, is suspended at points on the same
level. If the maximum tension in the cable is 9000 N, determine the sag, the tension at the lowest
point, and the horizontal distance between supports.
Solution
Sag = y – c ; T = wy
9000 N = 60 N/m (y)
y = 150 m
y 2 = S 2 + c2
(150) 2 = (90)2 + c2
c = 120 m
Sag = 150 – 120 = 30 m
H = wc
H = 60 N/m (120 m) = 7200 N
S+y 90 + 150
x = c ln = 120 ln = 83.178 m
c 120
2 x = 2 (83.178) = 166.356 m - (distance between supports)

REVIEW PROBLEMS

1. A cable carrying 3 kN per horizontal meter is suspended at two points A and B, A being 6 m lower
than B. The two points are 60 m apart horizontally. If the lowest point C of the cable is 2.40 m
below the level of A, determine the tensions at A, B, and C and the total approximate length of the
cable.

2. Find the tension at the supports, which are at the same level, of an ACSR cable weighing 0.50
kg/m if the span is 100 meters and the sag is 1.25 m.

3. A cable 60 m long weighs 1500 N. The resultant tensions at the ends of the cables are 1650 N
and 1500 N, respectively. What is the difference in height of the two ends? How far is the lowest
point below the lowest end? What is the horizontal distance between the two ends?

4. A cable weighing 0.40 kg/m and 800 m long is to be suspended with sag of 80 m. Determine the
maximum tension and the maximum span.

Solve review problems and submit solutions next week