On the coupling between three-dimensional bodies and slipping cables

Abstract This paper examines the system obtained by coupling a three-dimensional body with a stretched cable in the case of frictionless contact, in order to evidence the consequences of some characteristic aspects such as the inseparable coupling arising between local and global deformation. The analysis is carried out for hyperelastic system components in the range of a finite deformation theory and furnishes a description of the kinematics, balance conditions and infinitesimal stability. The proposed formulation may be used to analyze numerous engineering techniques; the application of some results obtained to a real case is illustrated by a simple but meaningful example involving a beam.