Cable layout menu

The cable layout menu is a drawing tool used to determine the length of a cable added to a model. Initially, supports are assumed to be fixed, and only gravity load is considered. If cable length is greater than chord length (distance between joints), the cable will have no initial tension under any circumstance. If the cable is shorter than chord length, initial tension will be introduced, and resultant tension will be dependent upon applied loading and the flexibility of the structure.

Tension may be generated in a cable through the application of gravity load, strain or temperature load, and target force loading. A specific cable tension may only be assigned through target force loading (when possible), which is an iterative process. Please note that defining cable tension in the cable layout menu does not generate prestressing force.

Once cable geometry is defined, and loading conditions are applied through load cases, cable tension will adjust such that resultant tension provides for equilibrium within the deformed structural configuration.

Notes

• The cable layout menu is accessible through Edit > Edit Line > Edit Cable Geometry.

• Relative length is cable length divided by cable chord length, which is the line between its start and end points.