Application of Cable Elements Concept to a Transmission Line with Cross Rope Suspension Structures

A methodology utilizing non-linear elastic catenary elements for the analysis of cable structures is summarized and the computer static analysis results for a proposed 500 KV cross rope suspension structure (CRSS) are presented. The catenary element allows any cable to be modeled as a single element between end points, greatly simplifies data preparation, reduces matrix size and improves accuracy. Uniform loads along the cable, including cable weight, wind, ice, etc., may be included directly as well as point loads at joints. An algorithm for the computation of cable fabrication lengths is included in the program, greatly simplifying the design of large indeterminate cable structures. Analysis results presented include cable length calculation, standard NESC loadingson a single tower, broken component analysis on both a single tower and a five tower, six span 8400 ft. (2560 m) segment of a transmission line with cross rope suspension structures.