General Equation of a

cable

By:

Dr. N Suresh,
NIE, Mysore

e-Notes for the lecture on VTU

EDUSAT Programme
Structural Analysis, Dr. N Suresh, NIE, Mysore 1
 General Equation of a cable or Differential Equation.
General shape of a cable depends on nature of loading, location of loads, type of
supports etc. The equilibrium of a part of a cable shall be considered to obtain equation
for cable when the cable is subjected to all over UDL.

Let us consider the equilibrium of a small length ‘ds’ of the cable shown in figure.
Let the cable be subjected to UDL of intensity W over horizontal span figure shows
tension and horizontal, vertical reactions in the part of the cable we have.

D
C

W kN/m
VD = v + dv T+d
φ + 2φ
HD = H
ds
dy
H = HC = TCos φ φ
C φ dx
T
V = VC = TSin φ
H = T Cos φ
V = T Sin φ
H
∴T = = H Sec φ
Cos φ
V T Sin φ
= = tan φ
H T Cos φ
V = H tan φ

Let us consider the equilibrium of the part of the cable shown in fig.
We have.
FY = 0
(V + dv) – V – W x dx = 0
dv = wdx
d[Htanφ]
=W
dx

Structural Analysis, Dr. N Suresh, NIE, Mysore 2

 dy
Hd
dx
=W
dx
d2Y W
=
dx 2 H
To derive equations for cable profile and tension in the cable when it is supported
at the same level and subjected to horizontal UDL.

Let us consider a cable of span L and max sag H subjected to UDL of intensity
2
dy W
‘W’ as shown in fig. From general equation we have 2
=
dx H
y
A L B

h
x
W
dy W
Integrating with respect to x we have = . x + c1
dx H
dy
We have at X = 0 =0
dx
W
Substituting 0 = . 0 + C1
H
C1 = 0

dy W
∴ = .x
dx H

W X2
Integrating with respect to x we get Y= . + C2
H 2
We have at X=0 Y=0
∴0 = 0 + C 2
C 2 =0

Structural Analysis, Dr. N Suresh, NIE, Mysore 3

 W X2
Y= .
H 2
At X= /2 Y=h
W ( / 2)
2

Substituting h = .
H 2
W 2

H=
8h
W X2
We have Y = .
w 2 2
8h
4h
Y = 2 x2
L
If A is considered as the origin then
4hx
Y= (L − x)
L2
To fin the tension at any point on the cable:
Tension at any point
T = H Sec φ
=H Sec 2 φ
=H 1 + tan 2 φ
2
dy
T=H 1+
dx
To derive an expression for cable profile when it is subjected to horizontal UDL
and supports are at different levels:
General equation for cable profile is
2
dy W
2
=
dx H

Structural Analysis, Dr. N Suresh, NIE, Mysore 4

 y L2
B

a
L1
b
x
O w
L1

Let us consider each part separately we have

Wx 2
Y=
2H
At x = -L1, Y = b
W (− L1 )
2 2
WL1
∴b = OR b = ------ (1)
2H 2H
At X = L2, Y= a + b
2
WL 2
∴a + b = ------ (2)
2H
2
b L
= 12
a + b L2
L1 b
∴ =
L2 (a + b )
Add (1) on either side
L1 b
+1 = +1
L2 a+b
L1 + L 2 b + (a + b )
= (L1 + L 2 = L)
L2 (a + b )
L b+ a+b
=
L2 a+b
L a+b
L2 =
b+ a+b

Structural Analysis, Dr. N Suresh, NIE, Mysore 5

Substituting in (2)
W L2 (a + B)
(a + b) =
2H [ b + (a + b ) ]
2

WL2
H=
(
2 b+ a+b )
2

Tension at any point is given by

T = H Sec φ
T=H Sec 2 φ

T=H 1 + tan 2 φ
2
dy
= H 1+ φ
dx
2
wx
T = H 1+
H
wx 2
Y=
2H
dy 2 wx
=
dx 2H
To derive an expression for length of the parabolic cable profile when the
supports are at the same level

ds
dy

dx

We have ds = dx 2 + dy 2
2
dx
Ds = dx 1 +
dy

Structural Analysis, Dr. N Suresh, NIE, Mysore 6

When the supports are at the same level we have
4hx 2
Y= 2
L
dy 8hx
= (taking origin at the center)
dx L2
1 + 64h 2 x 2
ds = dx
L4
Total length of the cable is given by
/2 ½
64h 2 x 2
LC = ds = 1+ dx
− /2
L4
/2 ½
64h 2 x 2
=2 1+ dx
0
L4
/2
1 64h 2 x 2
=2 1+ + ............ dx
0
2 L4
/2
32h 2 x 3
LC = 2 x + 4 (expanding by binomial theorem)
L 3 0
2 3
L 32h L
LC = 2 + 4
2 L 24
8h 2
LC = L+
3L
To derive an expression for length of the cable profile when the supports are at
different levels
L2 B

A a
L1

b
c
LC = Length of cable
Between A & C + Length of cable between C&B

Structural Analysis, Dr. N Suresh, NIE, Mysore 7

 −1 −1
LC = Length of cable of span 2L1 + length of cable of span 2L2
2 2
8 (a + b )
2
8h 2 1 8 b2
But LC = L + i.e L C = 2L1 + + 1 / 2 2L 2 + .
3L 2 3 2 L1 3 2L 2
2 b2 2 (a + b) 2
= L1 + + L2 +
3 L1 3 L2
2 b 2 (a + b) 2
LC = (L1 + L 2 ) + +
3 L1 L2

1) A cable suspends across a gap of 250m and carries UDL of 5kN/m horizontally
calculate the maximum tensions if the maximum sag is 1/25th of the span. Also calculate
the sag at 50m from left end.
A 250 m B
1
h= x 250
25
= 10 m
5 kN/m
We have
dy
2

T=H 1+
dx

Take origin as left end

4hx
Y= [L − x ]
L2
dy 4h
= [L − 2 x ]
dx L2
Tension is maximum at the supports i.e., at X = 0 from A
dy 4 ×10
= [250 − 2 × 0]
dx 250 2
dy
= 0.16
dx

Structural Analysis, Dr. N Suresh, NIE, Mysore 8

 WL2 5 × 250 2
H= = = 3906.25kN
8h 8 ×10
∴ Tmax = 3906.25 1 + 0.16 2 = 3955.93kN

4hx
We have Y= (L − x ) [x measured from A]
L2
4 ×10 × 50
Y= (250 − 50)
250 2
Y = 6.4m

2) Determine the length of the cable and max tension developed if the cable supports a
load of 2kN/m on a horizontal span of 300m. The maximum sag is 25m
A 300 m B

25

2 kN/m

WL2
H=
8h
2 × 300 2
8 × 25
H = 900kN
2
dy
T = H 1+
dx
4hx
Y = 2 [L − x ] [X from A]
L
dy 4h
Y= = [L − 2 x ]
dx L2
Tension is maximum at the supports i.e., at x = 0
dy 4 × 25
= (300 − 2× 0)
dx 300 2

Structural Analysis, Dr. N Suresh, NIE, Mysore 9

 dy
= 0.333
dx
∴Tmax = 900 1 + 0.3332
Tmax = 948.68kN
8h 2
Length of cable LC = L +
3L
8 × 25 2

300 +
3 × 300
L C = 305.55m

3) Determine the maximum span for a mild steel cable between supports at the same
level if the central dip. is 1/10th of the span and permissible stress in steel is 150 N/mm2.
Steel weighs 78.6 kN/m3. Assume the cable to hang in a parabola.

Here the weight of the cable itself is acting as UDL on the cable. We have SP
Wieght
weight =
Volume
A

L
Weight = Specific Weight x Volume
= Specific Weight x Area x Length
Weight
= Specific Weight x Area
Length
kN
W = 78.6 × Am 2
m 3

kN
78.6 A
m

WL2
We have H=
8h
78.6A × L2
1
8× × L
10
H = 98.25 LA

Structural Analysis, Dr. N Suresh, NIE, Mysore 10

 2
dy
T = H 1+
dx
4hx
Y = 2 ( L − X)
L
dy 4h
= (L − 2x )
dx L2
Tension is maximum at X = 0
dy 4h
=
dx L
2
1
4× L
∴Tmax = 98.25AL 1 + 10
L

Tmax = 105.81AL
Tmax
= 105.81L
A
Fmax =105.81 L
N
Fmax =150
mm 2

= 150MPa

kN
=150 ×10 3
m2
150 ×10 3 = 105.81 L

L = 1417.63m

Structural Analysis, Dr. N Suresh, NIE, Mysore 11