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Catenary Length Formula:
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The Catenary Length formula calculates the horizontal span of a cable under uniformly distributed load, given the tension at supports and midspan tension. It provides an accurate measurement of cable length in engineering applications.
The calculator uses the Catenary Length formula:
Where:
Explanation: The formula calculates the horizontal cable span by considering the difference between support tension and midspan tension relative to the distributed load.
Details: Accurate cable span calculation is crucial for structural engineering, cable system design, and ensuring proper tension distribution in suspension systems.
Tips: Enter tension at supports and midspan tension in Newtons, and uniformly distributed load in Newton/Meter. All values must be positive and valid.
Q1: What is a uniformly distributed load?
A: A uniformly distributed load is a load that is spread evenly along the length of the cable with constant magnitude throughout.
Q2: Why is midspan tension different from support tension?
A: Midspan tension is typically lower than support tension due to the catenary shape of the cable and the distribution of gravitational forces.
Q3: What are typical applications of this calculation?
A: This calculation is used in suspension bridges, overhead power lines, cable stayed structures, and other cable-supported systems.
Q4: Are there limitations to this formula?
A: This formula assumes ideal conditions with perfectly flexible cable, uniform load distribution, and neglects factors like wind load and temperature effects.
Q5: How accurate is this calculation for real-world applications?
A: While providing a good approximation, real-world applications may require additional factors to be considered for precise engineering calculations.