On the Rigid-Body Motion of Traveling, Sagged, Elastic Cables

This paper presents a methodology for modeling very flexible structures. A theory for the dynamics of traveling, arbitrarily sagged, elastic cables is developed for demonstration of this methodology. In this theory, the cable motion is modeled through the rigid-body motion and elastic deformation, and the rigid-body motion of cable configuration is modeled as an inextensible cable model. The dynamic, rigid-body configuration of a cable is a referenced base to describe its elastic deformation motion for any instantaneous moment. In this paper, the analytical solution for the rigid-body motion of the cable under a certain loading is developed as Part I of this investigation. From the dynamical configuration of the rigid-body motion of cable, an elastic motion of nonlinear cables is further investigated in sequel as the part II. This theory can be applied any cable structures and the methodology is useful for the perfectly flexible structures such as membranes.Copyright © 2002 by ASME