Software Verification

PROGRAM NAME: SAP2000

REVISION NO.: 7

EXAMPLE 7-003
CABLE PRESTRESSED CABLE NET

PROBLEM DESCRIPTION
In this example a prestressed cable net is subjected to a small uniform self-weight
and concentrated loads at each cable intersection point. The geometry, properties
and loading are as described in Section 4.6.3, Comparison Example 3, Figure
4.17 and Table 4.3 of Tibert, 1999 and are reproduced in the following figure.
Twelve cable elements total are used in the SAP2000 model, one for each of the
8 inclined members and one for each of the four horizontal members. The
displacement at the cable intersection points under the four point loads is
compared with results presented in Tibert, 1999.

Note that the cable net is not in equilibrium under its assumed initial
configuration.

GEOMETRY, PROPERTIES AND LOADING

Assumed initial configuration
f = 30 ft
100 ft

f
f
3 4
f
100 ft

f
1 2

Y
100 ft

X Cable Properties and Loads

Cable cross-sectional area = 0.227 in2
100 ft 100 ft 100 ft Equivalent modulus of elasticity = 12000 kips/in2
Cable self weight = 0.0001 kips/ft
Prestressing force in horizontal members = 5.459 kips
Prestressing force in inclined members = 5.325 kips
Vertical downward load at nodes 1, 2, 3 and 4 = 8.0 kips

EXAMPLE 7-003 - 1
 Software Verification
PROGRAM NAME: SAP2000
REVISION NO.: 7

TECHNICAL FEATURES OF SAP2000 TESTED

Uniform load applied to cable nets
Concentrated load applied to cable nets
Nonlinear static analysis

RESULTS COMPARISON
The independent results are those for the elastic catenary shown in Table 4.4 of
Tibert, 1999.

Output Parameter at Percent

Nodes 1, 2, 3 and 4 SAP2000 Independent Difference
X-dir Displacement, ft -0.1328 -0.1328 0%
Y-dir Displacement, ft -0.1328 -0.1328 0%
Z-dir Displacement, ft -1.4745 -1.4764 -0.1%

COMPUTER FILES: Example 7-003

CONCLUSION
The SAP2000 results show an acceptable comparison with the independent
results.

EXAMPLE 7-003 - 2