How to Calculate Catenary

By Allan Robinson, eHow Contributor

Catenaries with different scaling factors

Wikimedia Commons
A catenary is the shape that a cable assumes when it's supported at its ends and only acted on by its own weight.
It is used extensively in construction, especially for suspension bridges, and an upside-down catenary has been
used since antiquity to build arches. The curve of the catenary is the hyperbolic cosine function which has a U
shape similar to that of a parabola. The specific shape of a catenary may be determined by its scaling factor.
Difficulty: Moderately Challenging
Instructions
Things You'll Need:
• Calculator with scientific functions
Calculating Catenary
1. 1
Calculate the standard catenary function y = a cosh(x/a) where y is the y Cartesian coordinate, x is the x
Cartesian coordinate, cosh is the hyperbolic cosine function and a is the scaling factor.
2. 2
Observe the effect of the scaling factor on the catenary's shape. The scaling factor may be though of as
the ratio between the horizontal tension on the cable and the weight of the cable per unit length. A low
scaling factor will therefore result in a deeper curve.
3. 3
Calculate the catenary function with an alternate equation. The equation y = a cosh(x/a) can be shown to
be mathematically equivalent to y = a/2 (e^(x/a) + e^(-x/a)) where e is the base of the natural logarithm
and is approximately 2.71828.
4. 4
Calculate the function for an elastic catenary as y = yo/(1 + et) where yo is the initial mass per unit
length, e is the spring constant and t is time. This equation describes a bouncing spring instead of a
hanging cable.
5. 5
Calculate a real-world example of a catenary. The function y = -127.7 cosh(x/127.7) + 757.7 describes
the St. Louis Arch where the measurements are in units of feet.
Eagle Line Toolswww.eaglelinetools.com
Eagle Line Tools Manufactures Line Construction Tools.

Cable Wire Looming UKSt-Cross-Electronics.co.uk/Looming

Quality Cable Wire Looming 2011 Wire Looming QA. Delivered On Time

ADAPT-Builder Softwarewww.adaptsoft.com
3D FEM design solution for Concrete Slabs Beams and Foundations

Wind Load Calculationswww.MecaEnterprises.com

Software per ASCE 7-05/02 Submit Calc's to Building Dept's

Ads by Google
References
Read more: How to Calculate Catenary | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/how_5164332_calculate-
catenary.html#ixzz1CncIFaTi
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Jump to: navigation, search

This article is about the mathematical curve. For other uses, see Catenary (disambiguation).

"Chainette" redirects here. For the wine grape also known as Chainette, see Cinsaut.

A hanging chain forms a catenary.

The silk on a spider's web forming multiple elastic catenaries.

In physics and geometry, the catenary is the curve that an idealised hanging chain or cable assumes when
supported at its ends and acted on only by its own weight. The curve is the graph of the hyperbolic cosine
function, and has a U-like shape, superficially similar in appearance to a parabola (though mathematically quite
different). Its surface of revolution, the catenoid, is a minimal surface and is the shape assumed by a soap film
bounded by two parallel circular rings.

Contents
[hide]
• 1 History
• 2 The inverted catenary arch
• 3 Simple suspension bridges
• 4 Anchoring of marine objects
• 5 Mathematical description
○ 5.1 Equation
○ 5.2 Other properties
○ 5.3 Analysis
 5.3.1 Alternative 1
 5.3.2 Alternative 2
• 6 Variations
○ 6.1 Elastic catenary
○ 6.2 Equal resistance catenary
○ 6.3 Towed cables
• 7 Alternative analysis
• 8 Alternative analysis "towed cables"
• 9 See also
• 10 References
• 11 Bibliography
• 12 External links

[edit] History
The word catenary is derived from the Latin word catena, which means "chain". Huygens first used the term
catenaria in a letter to Leibniz in 1690. However, Thomas Jefferson is usually credited with the English word
catenary.[1] The curve is also called the "alysoid", "chainette",[2] or, particularly in the material sciences,
"funicular".[3]
It is often stated[4] that Galileo thought that the curve followed by a hanging chain is a parabola. A careful
reading of his book Two new sciences[5] shows this to be an oversimplification. Galileo discusses the catenary in
two places; in the dialog of the Second Day he states that a hanging chain resembles a parabola. But later, in the
dialog of the Fourth Day, he gives more details, and states that a hanging cord is approximated by a parabola,
correctly observing that this approximation improves as the curvature gets smaller and is almost exact when the
elevation is less than 45o. That the curve followed by a chain is not a parabola was proven by Joachim Jungius
(1587–1657) and published posthumously in 1669.[6][7]
The application of the catenary to the construction of arches is due to Robert Hooke, who discovered it in the
context of the rebuilding of St Paul's Cathedral,[8] possibly having seen Huygens' work on the catenary. (Some
much older arches are also approximate catenaries.)
In 1671, Hooke announced to the Royal Society that he had solved the problem of the optimal shape of an arch,
and in 1675 published an encrypted solution as a Latin anagram[9] in an appendix to his Description of
Helioscopes,[10] where he wrote that he had found "a true mathematical and mechanical form of all manner of
Arches for Building." He did not publish the solution of this anagram[11] in his lifetime, but in 1705 his executor
provided it as Ut pendet continuum flexile, sic stabit contiguum rigidum inversum, meaning "As hangs a flexible
cable so, inverted, stand the touching pieces of an arch."
In 1691 Gottfried Leibniz, Christiaan Huygens, and Johann Bernoulli derived the equation in response to a
challenge by Jakob Bernoulli. David Gregory wrote a treatise on the catenary in 1697.[7]
Euler proved in 1744 that the catenary is the curve which, when rotated about the x-axis, gives the surface of
minimum surface area (the catenoid) for the given bounding circle.[2]
[edit] The inverted catenary arch
This section does not cite any references or sources.
Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be
challenged and removed. (November 2009)

Arch of Taq-i Kisra in Ctesiphon as seen today is roughly but not exactly a catenary.

Arches under the roof of Gaudí's Casa Milà, Barcelona, Spain that are close to catenaries.
Gaudi's catenary model at Casa Milà

Hooke discovered that the catenary is the ideal curve for an arch of uniform density and thickness which
supports only its own weight. When the centerline of an arch is made to follow the curve of an up-side-down
(i.e. inverted) catenary, the arch endures almost pure compression, in which no significant bending moment
occurs inside the material.[citation needed]

The Sheffield Winter Garden is enclosed by a series of catenary arches.[12]

Catenary arches are often used in the construction of kilns. In this construction technique, the shape of a
hanging chain of the desired dimensions is transferred to a form which is then used as a guide for the placement
of bricks or other building material.[13][14]
However the conditions for a catenary to be the ideal arch are almost never fulfilled: arches usually support
more than their own weight, and on the rare occasions when they are freestanding they are sometimes not of
uniform thickness.[citation needed]
The Gateway Arch (looking East) is a flattened catenary.

Catenary arch kiln under construction over temporary form

The Gateway Arch in St. Louis, Missouri, United States is sometimes said to be an (inverted) catenary, but this
is incorrect.[15] It is close to a more general curve called a flattened catenary, with equation y=Acosh(Bx). (A
catenary would have AB=1.) While a catenary is the ideal shape for a freestanding arch of constant thickness,
the Gateway Arch is narrower near the top. According to the U.S. National Historic Landmark nomination for
the arch, it is a "weighted catenary" instead. Its shape corresponds to the shape that a weighted chain, having
lighter links in the middle, would form.[16]
[edit] Simple suspension bridges
In simple suspension bridges such as the Capilano Suspension Bridge, where the weight runs
parallel to the cables, the cables follow a catenary curve.

Free-hanging chains follow the catenary curve, but suspension bridge chains or cables do not hang freely since
they support the weight of the bridge. In most cases the weight of the cable is negligible compared with the
weight being supported. When the force exerted is uniform with respect to the length of the chain, as in a simple
suspension bridge, the result is a catenary.[citation needed]
When the force exerted is uniform with respect to horizontal distance, as in a suspension bridge, the result is a
parabola.[17]
When suspension bridges are constructed, the suspension cables initially sag as the catenary curve, before being
tied to the deck below, and then gradually assume a parabolic curve as additional connecting cables are tied to
connect the main suspension cables with the bridge deck below.[citation needed]

Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco, California. Most suspension bridge cables follow a parabolic,
not catenary curve.

[edit] Anchoring of marine objects

The catenary form given by gravity is taken advantage of in its presence in heavy anchor rodes. An anchor rode
(or anchor line) usually consists of chain and/or cable. Anchor rodes are used by ships, oilrigs, docks, wind
turbines and other marine assets which must be anchored to the seabed.
Particularly with larger vessels, the catenary curve given by the weight of the rode presents a lower angle of pull
on the anchor or mooring device. This assists the performance of the anchor and raises the level of force it will
resist before dragging. With smaller vessels and in shallow water it is less effective.[18]
The catenary curve in this context is only fully present in the anchoring system when the rode has been lifted
clear of the seabed by the vessel's pull, as the seabed obviously affects its shape while it supports the chain or
cable. There is also typically a section of rode above the water and thus unaffected by buoyancy, creating a
slightly more complicated curve.
[edit] Mathematical description
[edit] Equation

Catenaries for different values of a

The equation of a catenary in Cartesian coordinates has the form[19]

where cosh is the hyperbolic cosine function.

The Whewell equation for the catenary is

Differentiating gives

and eliminating gives the Cesàro equation:

[edit] Other properties

All catenary curves are similar to each other. Changing the parameter a is equivalent to a uniform scaling of the
curve.[20]
A parabola rolled along a straight line traces out a catenary (see roulette) with its focus.[2]
Square wheels can roll perfectly smoothly if the road has evenly spaced bumps in the shape of a series of
inverted catenary curves. The wheels can be any regular polygon except a triangle, but the catenary must have
parameters corresponding to the shape and dimensions of the wheels.[21]
A charge in a uniform electric field moves along a catenary (which tends to a parabola if the charge velocity is
much less than the speed of light c).[citation needed]
The surface of revolution with fixed radii at either end that has minimum surface area is a catenary revolved
about the x-axis.
Over any horizontal interval [a,b], the ratio of the area under the caternary to its length equals a, independent of
the interval selected. The catenary is the only plane curve other than a horizontal line with this property. Also,
the geometric centroid of the area under a stretch of catenary is the midpoint of the perpendicular segment
connecting the centroid of the curve itself and the x-axis.[22]
[edit] Analysis

We assume that the path followed by the chain is given parametrically by where
s represents arc length and is the position vector. This is the natural parameterization and has the property that

is the unit tangent vector, . The derivation of the curve for an optimal arch is similar except that the forces
of tension become forces of compression and everything is inverted.
It is now possible to derive two equations which together define the shape of the curve and the tension of the
chain at each point. This is done by a careful inspection of the various forces acting on a small segment of the
chain and using the fact that these forces must be in balance if the chain is in static equilibrium.

First, let be the force of tension as a function of s. The chain is flexible so it can only exert a force
parallel to itself. Since tension is defined as the force that the chain exerts on itself, must be parallel to the
chain. In other words,

where T is the magnitude of , a positive scalar function of s.

Second, let be the external force per unit length acting on a small segment of a chain as a function

of s. The forces acting on the segment of the chain between s and s + Δs are the force of tension at

one end of the segment, the nearly opposite force at the other end, and the external force acting on the
segment which is approximately . These forces must balance so

Divide by Δs and take the limit as to obtain

.
Note that, up till now, no assumptions have been made regarding the force , so equations (1) and (2) can be
used as the starting point in the analysis of a flexible chain acting under any external force. The next step is to
put in the specific expression for and solve the resulting equations.

In this case, where the chain has constant mass per unit length λ and the only external force

acting on the chain is that of a uniform gravitational field . So we have

Integrating we get,

Note that at the minimum the curve is horizontal and . So

c is the tension of the chain at its lowest point this point occurs at s = − d / λg. The point from which s is
measured is arbitrary, so pick this point to be the minimum, giving d = 0. The equation becomes

Note that the horizontal component of the tension is a constant.

From here, we can continue the derivation in two ways.
[edit] Alternative 1

If is the tangential angle of the curve then is parallel to so

Write to combine constants and obtain the Whewell equation for the curve,

In general, parametric equations can be obtained from a Whewell equation by integrating:

To find these integrals, make the substitution (or where gd is the Gudermannian
function).

Then and

We can eliminate u to obtain

where α and β are constants to be determined, along with a, by the boundary conditions of the problem. Usually
these conditions include two points from which the chain is being suspended and the length of the chain.
[edit] Alternative 2
From

where same as before. Then

and

The integrals of the right hand sides of these equations can be found using standard techniques giving

.
Isolating s in the first equation and using the result to substitute s in the second equation gives

as before, α and β are constants to be determined, along with a, by the boundary conditions of the problem,
which is exact the same result as that obtained with Alternative 1.
[edit] Variations
[edit] Elastic catenary
In an elastic catenary, the cable replaced by a spring and is no longer assumed to be of fixed density, but is
allowed to stretch in accordance with Hooke's Law. In this case, the mass per unit length is no longer constant
but can be given as

where λ0 is the mass per unit length for the chain in its relaxed state and ε is the spring constant. As in the earlier
derivation,

So the horizontal component of , is a constant c. Putting this into the equation for density produces

Then the equation for the vertical component of is

or, combining constants,

Using the substitution gives

or
 .

Parametric equations can be obtained by integrating:

When b = 0, corresponding to a completely inelastic cable, this is simply the catenary. When a = 0,
corresponding to the case there the cable essentially has length 0 in its relaxed state, similar to a Slinky, this is a
parabola. When a and b are both >0 then the curve is intermediate between a catenary and a parabola.
[edit] Equal resistance catenary
In an equal resistance catenary, cable is strengthened according to the magnitude of the tension at each point, so
its resistance to breaking is constant along its length. Assuming that the strength of the cable is proportional to
its density, the mass per unit length can be given as
λ = λrT

where λr is the mass per unit length per unit of tension force required for the chain to resist breaking. As in the
earlier derivation,

So the horizontal component of , is a constant c. Putting this into the equation for density produces

Then the equation for the vertical component of is

or, combining constants,

or
 .

Multiplying both sides by ds / dx gives

This can be reduced to a differential equation of degree one using separation of variables to obtain

or

Another integration produces

[edit] Towed cables

Instead of gravity, we assume we have a cylindrical cable that is acted on by drag forces due to the movement
of some surrounding fluid (e.g. air or water). The velocity relative to the cable is assumed to be a constant

. (Velocity is assumed to be vertical here to preserve similarities with the gravitational case.) To
compute the force due to drag, write where and respectively are the components parallel
to and orthogonal to the cable. The cable is assumed to be smooth so the force on the cable due to is taken to
be negligible. The force acting on the cable, following the Drag equation is

where c is a constant depending on the density of the fluid, the diameter of the cable, and the Drag coefficient.

If denotes the unit normal vector, then

So

From equations (1) and (2) above,

 .

Setting the coefficients of and equal produces

So T is a constant in this case and combining constants in the second equation gives

which is one of the equations for the catenary given above. This is a case where a different expression for the
force acting on the chain/cable produce the same curve but a different expression for tension.
In applications, the force of gravity and additional terms in the force due to drag may be added to the expression
for force, yielding equations that must be solved numerically.
[edit] Alternative analysis

Figure 1: The forces acting on the two extremes of a segment of a catenary decomposed into
horizontal and vertical components

The forces acting on a segment of catenary curve are shown in the figure at right.
The vector sum of the forces acting on the segment from the two extremities and from the gravitational force
must be zero. As the gravitational force is directed downwards the horizontal components of the forces acting
on the extremes must have the same magnitude. As this is true for any segment of the catenary this is a fixed
constant for the whole of the catenary. Denoting this constant with f one gets that the vertical component of the

force at the left extreme x1 is and at the right extreme x2 is The path length of the curve
representing a function y(x) with x varying from x1 to x2 is
If g is the gravitational constant and ρ is the mass per length unit of the chain the gravitational force acting on

the arc from x1 to x2 is

This force must be compensated by the vertical components of the forces acting on the two extremes of the arc,
i.e.

(1
)

Denoting the constant ratio with a and taking the derivative of equation (1) with respect to the upper limit of
the integral, i.e. with respect to x2, one gets

Denoting with z this equation takes the form

what means that for the inverse function x(z) one has

which is integrate to

where x0 is the constant of integration or equivalently

Again integrating with respect to x one gets

(2
)

where y0 is the second constant of integration

The lowest point of this curve has the coordinates

The length of the curve given by (2) from x = x1 to x = x2 is
 (3
)

This family of solutions is parametrized with the 3 parameters . For any concrete case these 3
parameters must be computed to fit the boundary value conditions. In a typical case the form of a chain having a
given length l and being attached in two fixed point with the coordinates and relative a vertical
coordinate system should be computed.

This means that have to be determined such that

(4
)

(5
)

(6
)

Setting

subtracting (4) from (5) and then dividing with a one gets

(7
)

For any given values one can determine from (7)

When has been determined is computed by solving a quadratic equation.

In case y1 = y2, i.e. in the case that the two attachment points are at the same heigth, one has that x0 = xm and that

the length is
With x0 known (4) or (5) can subsequently be used to determine y0.
Having determined x0 with the algorithm just described the curve length l corresponding to the selected a value
can be computed from (6). With an iterative algorithm the a value that corresponds to a certain curve length l
can finally be derived.

Figure 2:The red line corresponds to parameters X_0 and Y_0 + a determined with the algorithm
described above for different values of a

From figure 1 it is further clear that the tension of the chain at any point is

where is the magnitude of the constant horizontal

force component
If the mass density ρ is not constant but varies depending on some law the resulting differential equation will in
most cases not have a closed form analytic solution. But the resulting curve can still be determined with
arbitrary accuracy by the numerical integration of the differential equations

Given any initial values for y(x1) and z(x1) and any value for the parameter f these differential equations can be
propagated to x = x2 with ρ specified as any function of the state variable z. The free parameters to be iteratively
adjusted to fit the boundary constraints are now z(x1) and f. They can for example be adjusted iteratively such
that y(x2) = y2 where is the second attachment point. This leaves an additional degree of freedom for
the two parameters that can be used to get the correct length of the curve.
An example is the "elastic catenary" for which the force

stretches the material with a factor

where ε is an elasticity coefficient and that therefore the mass density (mass per unit length) is

where ρ0 is the mass density of the material in the absence of stress.

A case where a closed form mathematical solution is possible is the case of "the equal resistance catenary"

where the mass density (mass per unit length) is proportional to the force , i.e.

where ρ0 is the density at the lowest point

Setting the differential equations now take the form

what means that for the inverse function x(z) one has

which is integrate to

where x0 is the constant of integration or equivalently

where x is constraint to an interval
Again integrating with respect to x one gets

where y0 is the second constant of integration.

As when for any constant C it follows from (6) that by making a catenary that is
fixed at two points sufficiently long the constant horizontal force component f can be made arbitrarily small. For

this generalized "catenary of equal resistance" this is no more true, as a must be larger then for any x
between x1 and x2 the positions of the two attachment points and the density ρ0 at the lowest point impose a
lower limit for the fixed horizontal force component f
[edit] Alternative analysis "towed cables"
The following figure illustrates a segment of a cable that is fixed in both ends and exposed to drag.

The forces acting on a cable subject to drag. The medium causing the drag is moving
downwards. The drag force is orthogonal to the cable and the forces acting on the two
extremities of the segment compensate the net drag force on the segment

The velocity relative to the cable is assumed to be constant and the coordinate system is selected such that this

velocity is in the -y direction, i.e. . To compute the force due to drag, write

where and respectively are the components parallel to and orthogonal to the cable. The cable is assumed
to be smooth so the force on the cable due to is taken to be negligible. The force acting on the cable, per unit
length, following the Drag equation is therefore
with
(1
)
where c is a constant depending on the density of the fluid, the diameter of the cable, and the Drag coefficient

and denotes the unit normal vector.

For any curve y(x) the tangent (unit vector) is

(2
)

and the normal (unit vector) is

(3
)

From (1) and (3) follows that

(4
)

From (3) and (4) follows that the x-component of the total force on the segment of the curve from x = x1 to x =
x2 is

(5
)

and the component in the y-direction is

(6
)

If now

one has that

and from (2),(5) and (6) that

 (7
)

(8
)

If the now the force in the cable is

the force at the right extreme of the cable segment is

and at the left extreme

From (7) and (8) follows that the vector sum of these forces is precisely the force needed to counter act the
forces on the segment caused by the drag
[edit] See also
• Overhead lines
• Roulette (curve) - an elliptic/hyperbolic catenary
• Troposkein - the shape of a spun rope

[edit] References
1. ^ ""Catenary" at Math Words". Pballew.net. 1995-11-21.
http://www.pballew.net/arithme8.html#catenary. Retrieved 2010-11-17.
a b c
2. ^ MathWorld
3. ^ e.g.: Shodek, Daniel L. (2004). Structures (5th ed.). Prentice Hall. p. 22.
ISBN 9780130488794. OCLC 148137330.
4. ^ For example Lockwood p. 124
 5. ^ Galileo Galilei (1914). Dialogues concerning two new sciences. Trans. Henry Crew &
Alfonso de Salvio. Macmillan. pp. 149, 290. http://books.google.com/books?
id=SPhnaiERbWcC.
6. ^ Swetz, Faauvel, Bekken, "Learn from the Masters," 1997, MAA ISBN 0-88385-703-0,
pp.128-9
a b
7. ^ Lockwood p. 124
8. ^ "Monuments and Microscopes: Scientific Thinking on a Grand Scale in the Early Royal
Society" by Lisa Jardine
9. ^ cf. the anagram for Hooke's law, which appeared in the next paragraph.
10.^ "Arch Design". Lindahall.org. 2002-10-28.
http://www.lindahall.org/events_exhib/exhibit/exhibits/civil/design.shtml. Retrieved 2010-
11-17.
11.^ The original anagram was
"abcccddeeeeefggiiiiiiiillmmmmnnnnnooprrsssttttttuuuuuuuux": the letters of the Latin
phrase, alphabetized.
12.^ Hymers, Paul (2005). Planning and Building a Conservatory. New Holland. p. 36.
ISBN 1843309106.
13.^ Minogue, Coll; Sanderson, Robert (2000). Wood-fired Ceramics: Contemporary Practices.
University of Pennsylvania. p. 42. ISBN 0812235142.
14.^ Peterson, Susan; Peterson, Jan (2003). The Craft and Art of Clay: A Complete Potter's
Handbook. Laurence King. p. 224. ISBN 1856693546.
15.^ Osserman, Robert (2010), "Mathematics of the Gateway Arch", Notices of the American
Mathematical Society 57 (2): 220–229, ISSN 0002-9920,
http://www.ams.org/notices/201002/index.html
16.^ Laura Soullière Harrison (1985) (PDF), National Register of Historic Places Inventory-
Nomination: Jefferson National Expansion Memorial Gateway Arch / Gateway Arch; or "The
Arch", National Park Service, http://pdfhost.focus.nps.gov/docs/NHLS/Text/87001423.pdf,
retrieved 2009-06-21 and Accompanying one photo, aerial, from 1975PDF (578 KB)
17.^ Paul Kunkel (June 30, 2006). "Hanging With Galileo". Whistler Alley Mathematics.
http://whistleralley.com/hanging/hanging.htm. Retrieved March 27, 2009.
18.^ "Chain, Rope, and Catenary - Anchor Systems For Small Boats". Petersmith.net.nz.
http://www.petersmith.net.nz/boat-anchors/catenary.php. Retrieved 2010-11-17.
19.^ Larson, Ron; Edwards, Bruce H. (2010). Calculus. Belmont, California: Brooks/Cole,
Cengage Learning. p. 393. ISBN 0-547-16702-4.
20.^ "Catenary". Xahlee.org. 2003-05-28.
http://xahlee.org/SpecialPlaneCurves_dir/Catenary_dir/catenary.html. Retrieved 2010-11-
17.
21.^ "Roulette: A Comfortable Ride on an n-gon Bicycle" by Borut Levart, Wolfram
Demonstrations Project, 2007.
22.^ Parker, Edward (2010), "A Property Characterizing the Catenary", Mathematics
Magazine 83: 63-64

[edit] Bibliography
• Lockwood, E.H. (1961). "Chapter 13: The Tractrix and Catenary". A Book of Curves.
Cambridge. http://www.archive.org/details/bookofcurves006299mbp.
• Weisstein, Eric W., "Catenary" from MathWorld.
 • O'Connor, John J.; Robertson, Edmund F., "Catenary", MacTutor History of Mathematics
archive, University of St Andrews, http://www-history.mcs.st-
andrews.ac.uk/Curves/Catenary.html .
• "Chaînette" at Encyclopédie des Formes Mathématiques Remarquables
• "Chaînette élastique" at Encyclopédie des Formes Mathématiques Remarquables
• "Courbe de la corde à sauter" at Encyclopédie des Formes Mathématiques Remarquables

[edit] External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:
Catenary

Wikisource has the text of the 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica

article Catenary.

• "Catenary of equal resistance" at Encyclopédie des Formes Mathématiques Remarquables

• "Catenary" at Visual Dictionary of Special Plane Curves
• Hanging With Galileo - mathematical derivation of formula for suspended and free-hanging
chains; interactive graphical demo of parabolic vs. hyperbolic suspensions.
• Catenary Demonstration Experiment - An easy way to demonstrate the Mathematical
properties of a cosh using the hanging cable effect. Devised by Jonathan Lansey
• Horizontal Conveyor Arrangement - Diagrams of different horizontal conveyor layouts
showing options for the catenary section both supported and unsupported
• Catenary curve derived - The shape of a catenary is derived, plus examples of a chain
hanging between 2 points of unequal height, including C program to calculate the curve.
• Cable Sag Error Calculator - Calculates the deviation from a straight line of a catenary
curve and provides derivation of the calculator and references.
• Hexagonal Geodesic Domes - Catenary Domes, an article about creating catenary domes
• Dynamic as well as static cetenary curve equations derived - The equations governing the
shape (static case) as well as dynamics (dynamic case) of a centenary is derived. Solution
to the equations discussed.
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catenary"
Categories: Curves | Differential equations | Exponentials | Analytic geometry

Hidden categories: Articles needing additional references from November 2009 | All articles
needing additional references | All articles with unsourced statements | Articles with unsourced
statements from November 2010 | Articles with unsourced statements from December 2010 |
Articles with unsourced statements from August 2009

Personal tools
• Log in / create account
Namespaces
• Article
• Discussion
Variants
Views
• Read
• Edit
• View history
Actions
Search
Top of Form
Special:Search

Bottom of Form
Navigation
• Main page
• Contents
• Featured content
• Current events
• Random article
• Donate to Wikipedia
Interaction
• Help
• About Wikipedia
• Community portal
• Recent changes
• Contact Wikipedia
Toolbox
• What links here
• Related changes
• Upload file
• Special pages
• Permanent link
• Cite this page
Print/export
• Create a book
• Download as PDF
• Printable version
Languages
• Afrikaans
• ‫العربية‬
• Català
• Česky
 • Deutsch
• Español
• Français
• Galego
• Italiano
• ‫עברית‬
• Magyar
• മലയാളം
• Nederlands
• 日本語
• Piemontèis
• Polski
• Português
• Русский
• Suomi
• Svenska
• Українська
• 中文
• This page was last modified on 9 January 2011 at 18:31.
• Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License; additional
terms may apply. See Terms of Use for details.
Wikipedia® is a registered trademark of the Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., a non-profit
organization.
• Contact us

The Utility of Catenaries to Electric Utilities

...A Graphing Calculator Approach to the Examples
We provide a graphing calculator approach to the solutions of the example problems in the catenary
demo. We illustrate the solutions using the TI-83 but most other graphing calculators have similar
built-in features.
Example 1. A flexible cable with length 150 feet is to be suspended between two poles with height
100 ft. How far apart must the poles be spaced so that at its lowest point the cable is 50 feet off the
ground?
We obtain the system of equations:
Let f(x) = c + a cosh(x/a). Then f(-s) = f(s) = 100 so we have

c + a cosh(s/a) = 100. (1)

The minimum value of f occurs when x = 0 and the minimum value of f at x = 0 is 50 so

c + a = 50 (2)
The length of the wire is 150 feet. In the context of the catenary function, we can interpret the length
of the wire as the arc length of the graph of f from x = -s to x = s. This gives a third equation.

(3)

A bit of work gives the following:

which simplifies to

.
The integral can be evaluated directly

Thus, our problem is to solve a system of three equations in three unknowns:

c + a cosh(s/a) = 100
a + c = 50
2a sinh(s/a) = 150
for a, c, and s.
The system of three equations can be reduced to a system of two equations by setting
c = 50 - a. With some rearrangement, we obtain
cosh(s/a) = (50+a)/a
sinh(s/a) = 75/a
Each equation can be solved for s (in terms of a) by using inverse functions:

We can now use a crossing graphs approach which will require that we use the intersect function on
the TI-83
Step 1: Associate a with x and s with y. Define
the functions.

Step 2: Graph the functions. You may need to

experiment with the graphing window. In this
graph,
xmin = 0, xmax = 50
ymin = 0, ymax = 100

Step 3: Adjust the window so that the intersection

can be clearly seen. In this graph,
xmin = 25, xmax = 35
ymin = 45, ymax = 55

Step 4: From the CALC menu, select intersect.

Step 5: Enter the first curve.

Step 5: Enter the second curve.

Step 6. Enter the guess.

Step 7. Coordinates of intersection displayed.

Thus, the distance between the poles is about 100.6 feet.

Example 2. According to our electric utility, Excelsior Electric Membership Corp. (Excelsior EMC) in
Metter, GA [2], due to terrain, easements, etc., the average distance between utility poles ranges
from 325 to 340 feet. The Georgia Department of Transportation (DOT) [3] states that the maximum
height of a truck using interstates, national, and state routes is 13 feet and 6 inches. However,
special permits may be granted by the DOT for heights up to 18 feet. With these restrictions in mind,
Excelsior EMC maintains a minimum clearance of 20 feet under those lines it installs during cooler
months because expansion causes lines to sag during warmer months. For the obvious reason,
Excelsior EMC prefers that the distance from its lines to the ground is greater than 18' 6 '' at all times.
Problem: Find a and c so that f(x) = c + a cosh(x/a) models this situation.
We will assume that the distance between poles is 340 feet and that we want the minimum clearance
to be 20 feet.
Proceeding as in the previous example, we require that
f(-170) = f(170) = 34 and f(0) = 20.
These two conditions give the equations

c + a cosh(170/a) = 34 (3)
c + a = 20 (4)

which can be reduced to the single equation

(20 - a) + a cosh(170/a) = 34 or
a cosh(170/a) - a = 14. (5)
We can use a crossing graphs approach (the intersect function) of the calculator to obtain a numerical
approximation for the value of a. But by rewriting Eq. (5) below:
a cosh(170/a) - a - 14 = 0
we put the equation into a form so that we can use the zero function.
Step 1. Associate the variable a with x and enter
the left hand side as y1.

Step 2. Plot the function. Adjust the scale as

necessary so that you can see the x-intercept.
The window dimensions here were
xmin =900, xmax = 1100
ymin = -5, ymax = 5

Step 3. Select zero from the CALC menu.

Step 4. Enter left bound.

Step 5. Enter right bound.

Step 6. Enter a guess.

Step 7. The intersection is shown.

The x-coordinate of the intersection gives the value of a = 1034.4678. We can compute c directly: c
= 20 - a, so for this example c = -1014.4678.
With this information we can obtain the length of the wire between the poles by computing the arc
length integral.

Step 1. Enter the function to be integrated:

Step 2. Graph the function. Here the limits were

xmin = -170, xmax = 170
ymin = -5, ymax = 3
Interesting, huh? We'll look at this later.

Step 3. Select the integration function.

Step 4. Select lower limit of integration.

Step 5. Select upper limit of integration.

Step 6. The value of the definite integral is

shown. Note that the area under the curve is
shaded.

The length of wire is about 341.53 feet.

This graphical approach to the integration leads to an interesting discussion about the hyperbolic
functions and their graphs. Students should wonder why the graph in Step 2 appears to be linear.
A closer look yields the following:

Thus, the arc length integral is equivalent to

This formulation of the integral still does not directly explain the flatness of the graph. Since the
integrand is a hyperbolic function, shouldn't we expect to have a curve?
In fact, we do. Because the scale of the limits of integration relative to the denominator, the bending
of the graph is obscured. By changing the xmin and xmax dimensions of the graphing window to be
of the same order as the denominator, we see that the graph of the integrand does have the typical
shape of a hyperbolic cosine function.

Our original graph only showed the relatively flat area of the hyperbolic cosine function.
 LFR 12/31/2003

Deriving the Catenary Curve Equation

A catenary curve describes the shape the displacement cable takes when subjected to a uniform force such as
gravity. This curve is the shape of a perfectly flexible chain suspended by its ends and acted on by gravity. The
equation was obtained by Leibniz and Bernoulli in 1691 in response to a challenge by Bernoulli and Jacob.

Displacement Cable Idealized As A Catenary Curve

The equation of a catenary curve can be derived by examining a very small part of a cable and all forces acting
on it (see Figure 2)

Figure 2 - Forces Acting on a Part of Cable (Section 1-2)

Here h is the sag the cable gets under the action of gravitational force. To simplify, we will examine two points
on the cable: points 1 and 2. Let the distance between point 1 and 2 be so small, that cable segment 1-2 is linear.
Let dx and dy be projections of section 1-2 length to X and Y axes respectively.
A tightening force is acting at every point of cable. It is directed at a tangent to cable curve and depends only on
the coordinates of cable point. Let the tightening force at point 1 be N and that at point 2 be N+dN, where dN is
a small addition due to difference of coordinates.
Let P be the weight of cable section 1-2. Weight is directed downwards, parallel to Y axis. Let α be the angle
between the X axis and cable section 1-2.
For cable section 1-2 to be at rest and equilibrium with the rest of cable, forces acting on this section need to
balance each other. The sum of these forces need to equal to zero.
Formula Explanation
Projections of sum of all forces acting at section 1-2 to
X and Y axes should look like formula 1. Here Nx and
Ny are projections of tighting force N to X an Y axes
correspondingly. These equations give us the value for
cable weight P (formula 2).

We see from Figure 2 that the ratio of tighting force

projections (N) is found to be a slope ratio of the force
N (see formula 3).

If we differentiate this ratio by x, we get second

derivative of ratio (formula 4).

At the same time, cable weight P is cable weight per

unit length (q) mutliplied by differential of arc (dS)
(formula 5).

Using formula 2, we can see that first derivative of

projecting of tightening force to Y axis can be showed
by the differential of arc (formula 6).

If we state formula 7,

we get the final equation for cable form (formula 8).

We will solve this equation using substitution (formula

9).

Finally we get (formula 10), where C1 and C2 are

coefficients that are defined by point of origin in
concerned system. We assume this point to be the
lowest point of cable, then C1 = 0 and C2 = 1.

Hence the equation of cable form looks like formula 11.

This formula is wide-known as that for the catenary
curve.

Cable sag (h) is value of cable form equation for point

l/2 (formula 12), where l is the straightline distance
between the position transducer and the application
(Figure 1).

For cable length, we will use the formula for the length
of the catenary curve (formula 13).
 The length of the cable is the catenary length from point
-l/2 to point l/2 (formula 14).

Table 1: Derivation of the Catenary Curve Equation

Proving the Calculator

Now some test to prove our calculator above. The input data we have is:
Default
Field Sybmol Units
value

Cable tension Nx N 3

Straightline distance l m 0.5

Cable mass per unit length kg/m 0.00065617

Force perpendicular to cable length (acceleration of gravity) g m/s^2 9.81

For these default inputs, we can use formulas 7-14 to calculate the cable sag and cable length:
Variable Formula Value

Cable mass per unit length * Force perpendicular to

q 0.0064370277
cable length

466.053610426439519
a (7)
593

0.00006705237348283
Cable sag h (12)
384

Cable length 0.50000002397877673

(14)
S 999

Because the mass of the cable per unit length is so small and the cable tension is relatively high, cable sag does
not produce any significant error unless the cable length is exceptionally long (over 60 feet (18.28 meters)). The
cable sag error is minor compared to other error sources (generally less than ± 0.0025%).
The easy-to-use calculator above shows how displacement cable sag affects the accuracy of our position
transducers. The calculator displays the cable sag in absolute units as well as a percentage of total cable length
("measurement error").
There is virtually no cable sag error when the displacement cable has no appreciable "side loads" on it such as
what exists in a space environment or when the cable is oriented parallel to the direction of gravity.
Other catenary facts:
• Jungius disproved Galileo's claim that the curve of a chain hanging under gravity would be
a parabola in 1669.
• The word catenary is derived from the Latin word for "chain."
• The curve is also called the Alysoid and Chainette.
Additional information on the catenary curve can be found at:
 • http://xahlee.org/SpecialPlaneCurves_dir/Catenary_dir/catenary.html
• http://whistleralley.com/hanging/hanging.htm
• http://planetmath.org/encyclopedia/Catenary.html
• http://www.math.udel.edu/MECLAB/UndergraduateResearch/Chain/Main_Page.html
• http://mathworld.wolfram.com/Catenary.html
• http://server1.fandm.edu/departments/Mathematics/writing_in_math/matilda/highwire_solu
tion/solution.html
• http://www.nps.gov/jeff/equation.htm
• http://math.fullerton.edu/mathews/n2003/CatenaryMod.html
• http://teachers.sduhsd.k12.ca.us/abrown/Activities/Matching/answers/Catenary.htm
Other calculators:
• Thermal Effect
• Sinusoidal Motion
• Displacement Cable Stretch
• Position Transducer Linearity (Calibration)
• Sensor Total Cost of Ownership
• Cable (String) Fundamental Frequency
• Zero-Span Calculator for the Series 6 Voltage Conditioner
• Potentiometer-Based Position Transducer Voltage Divider and Power Calculator
No Warranties: This calculator and information are provided "as is" without any warranty, condition, or
representation of any kind, either express or implied, including but not limited to, any warranty respecting non-
infringement, and the implied warranties of conditions of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose. In
no event shall SpaceAge Control, Inc. be liable for any direct, indirect, special, incidental, consequential or
other damages howsoever caused whether arising in contract, tort, or otherwise, arising out of or in connection
with the use or performance of the information contained on this Web page.