Nonlinear static analysis of a dual-track multi-span continuous cable car system

Abstract

This paper presents a nonlinear static analysis of a dual-track, multi-span continuous cable system for cable cars and ski lifts. The end supports are assumed to be frictionless bull wheels and the intermediate supports are assumed to be frictionless pulley supports. As geometrical and contact nonlinearities are involved, a nonlinear finite element solver ABAQUS is adopted for the static analysis of the cable system. The interfaces between cables and frictionless supports are modelled by frictionless interaction in normal direction and “hard contact” that allows for separation after contact in the tangential direction. Load cases due to different arrangements of cable cars are considered in the nonlinear analysis of the cable system. The proposed method for analysis used herein should be useful for solving various engineering problems involving cables undergoing large geometrical deformation and contact nonlinearity.