Cable

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Geometry form

Defining Cable tension in the cable layout does not generate prestressing force. Cable layout is only The Cable Geometry form is a drawing tool used to determine the length of the a cable that is added to the model. It is a drawing tool. It assumes fixed points of support a model. Initially, supports are assumed to be fixed, and only gravity load acting. In the actual model, the supports may move, many different loads can be applied to the cable and the rest of the structure, and these loads may differ from one load case to another. If the length of the cable is longer that the is considered.

Cable Parameters

Within the Cable Geometry form is a Cable Parameters area where cable length is calculated. If cable length is greater than chord length (distance between the joints), it the cable will have no relatively small initial tension in the model, no matter how it was drawn. If the cable is shorter that the than chord length, then significant initial tension will be induced. The actual introduced, and resultant tension will depend upon support flexibility.Aside from this effect, tension in the cable must be generated by applied loading. Tension can be generated by applying gravity load, by applying be dependent upon the applied loading and the flexibility of the structure. 

Please note that defining cable tension in the Cable Geometry form does not generate prestressing force.

Tension

Besides being influenced by cable geometry, tension may be generated in a cable through the application of gravity load, strain or temperature load, or by applying and target-force loading. When applying gravity, strain, or temperature load, the resulting tension will depend on the shape of the cable and the movement of the supports due to flexibility and other factors.

Only target force loading is capable of applying a specified tension in the cable, when possible, and this is an iterative process due to all of the factors mentioned above.

Notes

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A specific cable tension may only be assigned through target-force loading (when possible), which is an iterative process. 

Once cable geometry is defined, and loading conditions are applied through load cases, cable tension will adjust such that resultant tension provides for equilibrium within the deformed structural configuration.

Notes

• The Cable Geometry form is accessible through Edit > Edit Line > Edit Cable Geometry.

• relative Relative length is cable length of the cable divided by the length of the cord connecting the beginning cable chord length, which is the line between its start and end points.

Available Cable Types

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CableImage Added

Figure 1  Cable Element, showing connectivity, local axes, dimensions, properties, and shape parameters