Analysis and design of cable structure S

Abstract

As a class, suspension structures are generally more flexible than framed or trussed structures. A consequency of this flexibility is that factors often need be considered when engineering cable structures which may be neglected when designing more conventional structural systems. Among these factors are: difficulties associated with mathematically defining the suspension structure's initial shape and the member forces corresponding to that state, the nonlinear relationship between changes of loading and displacement, and the susceptibility of some types of cable structures to wind-induced oscillations. In the paper, cable structures are classified and examples of some types are illustrated together with a discussion of their advantages and disadvantages. The problem of establishing the initial shape of the structure is discussed. Some techniques for computing the displacements of suspension structures resulting from changes in static loading, considering the geometrical nonlinearity, are described. A procedure for determining the displacements of stiffened and unstiffened cable three-dimensional structures is outlined that is suitable for computer solution. Results of numerical studies made utilizing this technique are presented.