3.1.10.83. CatenaryCableElement

This command constructs a two-node catenary cable element for static and dynamic analysis including thermal effects. The registered command name is CatenaryCable. Use with -ndm 3 -ndf 3 or -ndf 6.

element CatenaryCable $eleTag $iNode $jNode $weight $E $A $L0 $alpha $temperature_change $rho $errorTol $Nsubsteps $massType

Argument	Type	Description
$eleTag	integer	unique element tag
$iNode $jNode	integer	end nodes
$weight	float	distributed weight per unit length
$E	float	elastic modulus
$A	float	cross-sectional area
$L0	float	unstressed cable length
$alpha	float	thermal expansion coefficient
$temperature_change	float	temperature change from reference state
$rho	float	mass density
$errorTol	float	equilibrium iteration tolerance
$Nsubsteps	integer	number of substeps for internal equilibrium iterations
$massType	integer	mass matrix type: 0 lumped; 1 integration; 2 Clough-style; 3 equivalent truss

Note

1. The element formulates catenary equilibrium internally and supports large displacements.

2. Valid Element Recorder queries include force, localForce, and basicForce.

Example

1. Tcl Code

element CatenaryCable 1 1 2 0.1 2.0e11 0.001 10.0 1.2e-5 0.0 7850.0 1.0e-8 10 0

2. Python Code

element('CatenaryCable', 1, 1, 2, 0.1, 2.0e11, 0.001, 10.0, 1.2e-5, 0.0, 7850.0, 1.0e-8, 10, 0)

Code developed by: Pablo Ibanez and Jose Abell, Universidad de los Andes