Abstract
This paper is aimed at simulating and investigating the coupled translational and rotational vibrations occurring simultaneously in inclined sagged cables. The three-dimensional behavior of the single-layered six wires strand stiffness results are reduced to effective one-dimensional behavior from the elasticity-based finite element behavior analyses under axial tension and torsional loads. These are directly compared with multiple one-dimensional analytical model results. The effective stiffness coefficients agreed well for the actual lay angle of the cable and at angles below 20 degrees with finite element models where internal contact was not considered. To find the cable natural frequency and corresponding modal shapes the derived primary stiffness and mass matrices are discretized over the inclined sagged cable using a finite element model where the two-node cable element has three translational and three rotational degrees of freedom. The vibration behavior is also studied using extensive experimental tests using the same cable geometry and material used in the numerical calculations. In addition to the physical experiments, the finite element model accuracy was also compared with results from a well-known analytical model available from the literature for horizontal cables, and the influence of the inclination angle variation was also investigated and compared with the computer finite element software ABAQUS for the same purpose. The results found confirm the correctness of the derived formulation, mathematical, and psychical importance of the six-degrees of freedom finite element model developed and the efficiency in evaluating the coupled cable dynamic behavior. It addition, the results highlight the fundamental dynamics of inclined cables and the role of the inclination angle, sag, and weight of the cable.