Calculation of Catenary

28-Mar-03
Jim Lux
Metric Customary
Total linear load 0.28812 N/m 0.019348 lb/ft
Total Length 10 m 32.8 ft

sag 0.1 m 0.328 ft

Fh 36.000594 N 7.929646 lb

Span 9.99733312 m 32.79125 ft

T 36.029406 N 7.935993 lb Calculation of size, given AWG
AWG diam inch
cable diameter 2.05 mm 0.080709 inch 12 0.079433
area 3.30064E-006 sq m 0.005116 sq inch
Stress 10.915898749 MPa 1.551212 kips

linear weight 0.28812 N/m 0.019348 lb/ft

Wind drag computation

Wind speed 0 m/sec 0 mi/hr

relative density to Std 1 1
diameter 0.00205 m 0.006724 ft
Drag/length 0 N/m 0 lb/ft

Temperature 10 C 50 F
Altitude 1000 m 3280 ft
std tmp 8.5 C 47.30 F
Rel density 0.8862888993 0.886035
abs density 1.0857039017 kg/cu m

The curve a hanging flexible wire or chain
assumes when supported at its ends and acted
upon by a uniform gravitational force. The word
catenary is derived from the Latin word for
"chain." In 1669, Jungius disproved Galileo's
claim that the curve of a chain hanging under
gravity would be a parabola (MacTutor
Archive). The curve is also called the alysoid
and chainette. The equation was obtained by
Leibniz
, Huygens
, and Johann Bernoulli
in 1691 in response to a challenge by Jakob Bernoulli
n of size, given AWG .
diam mm
2.017594 Huygens
was the first to use the term catenary in a letter to Leibniz
in 1690, and David Gregory
wrote a treatise on the catenary in 1690
(MacTutor Archive). If you roll a parabola along
a straight line, its focus traces out a catenary.
As proved by Euler
in 1744, the catenary is also the curve which,
when rotated, gives the surface of minimum
surface area (the catenoid) for the given
bounding circle.
The Catenary
The statics of a hanging chain
-----------------------------------------------
The curve described by a uniform,
coordinates to describe the curve a
upwards. Let one end of the chain b
tension T in the chain is in the direc
we cut the chain at some point as s
and this point, we see that H is con
Therefore, the vertical component o
Consider the equilibrium of the sho
we have already seen, and the sum
differential equation that is first orde
using the conditions that y = y' = 0 a
The arc length, measured from the
total length of the chain is S = (2H/w
H = (w/8h)(S2 - 4h2), in terms of th
force at a support is V = wS/2, so th
at equal heights on the two sides, b
If we expand the hyperbolic cosine
= wL2/8H, a familiar result for the p
moments about the right-hand supp
is w dx = Hy", which, when integrat
If a vertical downward force F acts
This will add a term F(x - x0) for a
illustrating a well-known problem w
sinking as another rises. This can h
If the chain is imagined to become
curve shows how the stress is prop
tends to buckle, a problem not enco
condtions are usually quite differen
voussoirs. A segmental arch is help
distributes the load more uniformly.
The parametric equations for the catenary are given by

-1
-2
-3

where
corresponds to the vertex and a is a
parameter that determines how quickly the
catenary "opens up." Catenaries for values of
a ranging from 0.05 to 1.00 by steps of 0.05
are illustrated above.

The arc length, curvature, and tangential angle

for
are given by

-4
-5
-6

The slope is proportional to the arc length as measured from the center of symmetry.

The Cesro equation is

-7

The St. Louis Arch closely approximates an

inverted catenary, but it has a finite thickness
and varying cross sectional area (thicker at the
base; thinner at the apex). The centroid has
half-length of
feet at the base, height of 625.0925 feet, top
cross sectional area 125.1406 square feet, and
bottom cross sectional area 1262.6651 square
feet.
The catenary also gives the shape of the road (roulette) over which a regular polygonal "wheel" can travel smoothly

-8

where

-9
SEE ALSO: Calculus of Variations, Catenoid,
Lindelof's Theorem, Roulette, Surface of
Revolution.

REFERENCES:

Beyer, W. H. CRC Standard Mathematical Tables, 28th ed. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press, p. 214, 1987.

Geometry Center. "The Catenary." http://www.geom.umn.edu/zoo/diffgeom/surfspace/catenoid/catenary.html.

Gray, A. "The Evolute of a Tractrix is a Catenary." 5.3 in Modern Differential Geometry of Curves and Surfaces wit

Lawrence, J. D. A Catalog of Special Plane Curves. New York: Dover, pp. 195 and 199-200, 1972.

Lockwood, E. H. "The Tractrix and Catenary." Ch. 13 in A Book of Curves. Cambridge, England: Cambridge Univer

MacTutor History of Mathematics Archive. "Catenary." http://www-groups.dcs.st-and.ac.uk/~history/Curves/Catenar

National Park Service. "Arch History and Architecture: Catenary Curve Equation." http://www.nps.gov/jeff/equation.h

Pappas, T. "The Catenary & the Parabolic Curves." The Joy of Mathematics. San Carlos, CA: Wide World Publ./Te

Steinhaus, H. Mathematical Snapshots, 3rd ed. New York: Dover, pp. 247-249, 1999.

Wells, D. The Penguin Dictionary of Curious and Interesting Geometry. London: Penguin, pp. 26-27, 1991.

Yates, R. C. "Catenary." A Handbook on Curves and Their Properties. Ann Arbor, MI: J. W. Edwards, pp. 12-14, 195
he Catenary
he statics of a hanging chain

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

he curve described by a uniform, flexible chain hanging under the influence of gravity is called the catenary. Let us choose the
ordinates to describe the curve as shown in the Figure, with the origin at the lowest point of the chain, x to the right, and y
wards. Let one end of the chain be supported at x = L/2 and y = h, and let w be the weight per unit length of the chain. The
nsion T in the chain is in the direction of the derivative dy/dx. Its horizontal component is H, and its vertical component is V. If
e cut the chain at some point as shown, and consider the equilibrium of the portion of the chain between the right-hand end
d this point, we see that H is constant at all points of the chain, since the weight of the chain acts vertically downward.
herefore, the vertical component of the tension in the chain is Hy', where y' stands for dy/dx.

onsider the equilibrium of the short length of chain subtending a distance dx on the x-axis. The horizontal forces are equal, as
e have already seen, and the sum of the vertical forces is V + dV - V - w ds = 0. Since V = Hy', dV = Hy" dx, and we obtain a
ferential equation that is first order in y'. This equation is integrated as shown in the Figure to find y'(x), and again to find y(x),
ing the conditions that y = y' = 0 at x = 0. The catenary is a hyperbolic cosine curve, and its slope varies as the hyperbolic sine.
he arc length, measured from the origin, is s = (H/w) sinh (wx/H), which shows that the slope is proportional to arc length. The
al length of the chain is S = (2H/w) sinh (wL/2H), and h = (H/w)[cosh (wL/2H) - 1]. We can use these two equations to find that
= (w/8h)(S2 - 4h2), in terms of the total length of the chain and the sag. Then, the span L = (2H/w) sinh-1 (Sw/2H). The vertical
rce at a support is V = wS/2, so the tension there is given by T2 = H2 + (wS/2)2. We have assumed that the chain is supported
equal heights on the two sides, but this is not necessary, and the equations can be modified to suit any case.

we expand the hyperbolic cosine in powers of x, the lowest term yields y = wx2/2H. Therefore, to this approximation, we have h
wL2/8H, a familiar result for the parabolic curve of a weightless chain supporting a uniform load, easily obtained by taking
oments about the right-hand support of the chain. If we assume the weight is uniformly distributed in x, the differential equation
w dx = Hy", which, when integrated twice, gives just the result above.

a vertical downward force F acts at a point of the chain, the slope is discontinuous at that point, jumping by an amount F/H.
his will add a term F(x - x0) for a force F at x = x0 to the differential equation. The shape of the whole chain changes,
ustrating a well-known problem with suspension bridges. If the deck is not sufficiently rigid, the bridge can oscillate, one portion
nking as another rises. This can happen in opposite phase on the two sides of the bridge, resulting in a torsional oscillation.

he chain is imagined to become rigid, and is turned over, tensions will become compressions, and we will have an arch. The
rve shows how the stress is propagated to the supports, provided the structure remains rigid. In this case, a thin structure
nds to buckle, a problem not encountered with the chain. The results must be used with care for arches, since the loading
ndtions are usually quite different. The usual circular arch has heavy haunches, which helps to guide the force along the
ussoirs. A segmental arch is helped by pierced spandrels, since this reduces the force on a flatter portion of the arch and
stributes the load more uniformly.
gonal "wheel" can travel smoothly. For a regular n-gon, the Cartesian equation of the corresponding catenary is

Press, p. 214, 1987.

ace/catenoid/catenary.html.

metry of Curves and Surfaces with Mathematica, 2nd ed. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press, pp. 102-103, 1997.

199-200, 1972.

dge, England: Cambridge University Press, pp. 118-124, 1967.

nd.ac.uk/~history/Curves/Catenary.html.

http://www.nps.gov/jeff/equation.htm.

Carlos, CA: Wide World Publ./Tetra, p. 34, 1989.

enguin, pp. 26-27, 1991.

MI: J. W. Edwards, pp. 12-14, 1952.

 choose the
t, and y
hain. The
nent is V. If
hand end
ard.

e equal, as
e obtain a
o find y(x),
perbolic sine.
ength. The
s to find that
The vertical
is supported

n, we have h
taking
tial equation

ount F/H.
es,
one portion
scillation.

arch. The
ructure
loading
ng the
ch and