Analysis of Sliding Cable Element

The sliding cable structures have found its application in many practical structures, such as ski lifts, electrical transmission lines, and cable systems in the erection procedures of long-span bridges. This paper presents a method for modeling the cable sliding on a pulley or sheaves. “Sliding cable element” is developed to solve the general problem. Based on the foundational principles of finite element analysis, the relation of the forces in the element on equilibrium state is used. The computation is simplified by automatically adjusting the cable length on each side of a pulley or sheave in order to maintain equilibrium. The element models are implemented in a geometrically nonlinear, transient implicit finite element program. Several numerical examples are developed to validate the effective of the sliding cable element.