Understanding the Catenary Curve
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ScribdTranslationsUnderstanding the Catenary Curve
Translated by
ScribdTranslationsWHAT IS THE Catenary CURVE?
The catenary curves are not just any curves, they do not have a linear function nor
polynomial and has given rise to great mathematical debates.
A catenary is the curve formed by a cable or a chain held at rest over
two extremes, subject only to its own weight.
The conductor for power transmission lines is a particular type of member.
structural and that structural engineers study for application purposes in
bridges, through conductors, etc
However, for Electrical Engineering, the free behavior of
conductor subjected at most by the effects of wind and/or ice overloads; being
the arrow, dart and shots, etc., the most common unknowns.
A freely suspended conductor between two supports describes a curve that is
easily deducible and called catenary.
The attached figure represents a conductor suspended from points A and B. If
we assume that the conductor is perfectly flexible, homogeneous, and inextensible under
the action of gravitational forces with continuous load distributed along it.
We can take a differential of the conductor and carry out the corresponding analysis.
Catenary Equation
The conductors of electrical lines are generally cables, mostly.
heterogeneous, that is, they are composed of groups of conductors made of different materials
(combination of aluminum and steel conductors, copper and steel, etc.).
Therefore, the mechanical calculation of these conductors must be done based on the modulus of
elasticity and the coefficient of thermal expansion, corresponding to the proportion in which it
find the aluminum and steel (these values are provided by the manufacturer).
The atmospheric influences that determine the mechanical behavior of cables
The variations in ambient temperature, which due to the effect of contraction or expansion
they alter the length of these, making it greater or smaller.
If the temperature increases, the length of the cable stretches (increasing its sag) and its
mechanical tension decreases.
If the temperature decreases, the length of the cable decreases (reducing its sag)
and its mechanical tension increases.
The force exerted by the wind on the conductors, which acts as an overload,
since when combined with the weight of the cable itself, it creates an effect of increase
apparent of that weight.
The force exerted by the frost (ice) on the conductors represents another overload,
of vertical action, which overlaps the weight of the cable itself, this condition applies
to geographical areas of low temperature.
Two general criteria are used for the calculation of stresses and deflections:
The catenary curve, where it is assumed that the mass of the conductor is uniformly distributed.
distributed along the length of the arc described by said conductor the minimum tension
the cable is at the lowest point and the maximum tension is at the support points. The
tension at any point on the cable consists of two components: one horizontal (which is
uniform along the cable) and a vertical (which varies from zero at the lowest point of
cable up to a maximum value on the supports). The above means that the total tension in the
cable is variable.
The curve of the parabola is assumed that the mass of the cable is uniformly distributed.
length of a horizontal line that depends on the support points of the cable. The equation
The mathematics of the cable is that of a parabola.
The results of both methods are similar when the arch - span ratio is
small, however, the difference in the results can be considerable as
that the deflection increases. Therefore, for long spans where the deflection is larger,
there will be a difference between both methods.
The parabola method, simpler, is limited to arrow relationships--
values less than 0.05 and the method of the
catenary for relationships between 0.05 and 0.20. Relationships between those values will hardly be found.
you are a 0.20.
CARTESIAN EQUATION OF THE Catenary
The distance 'f' between the lowest point located at the center of the curve and the line AB, which
The supports joined together are called an arrow. The distance "a" between the two is called the span.
support or tie points A and B.
The poles or structures must withstand the tensions TAy TBwhat the driver exerts in the
mooring points. The tension T = TA= TBIt will depend on the span length, on the weight of the
conductor, of the temperature and of the atmospheric conditions.
Equilibrium condition of the catenary arc OQ
Sea:
L = Length of the arc of the catenary OQ
T = Mechanical tension at point Q
H = Mechanical tension at the lowest point of the catenary O
W = Weight of the cable per unit length (includes overloads)
The following equilibrium equations can be written for the arc of the catenary OQ
W.L
From the previous equations
On the other hand
integrating
if a new reference axis O'x' parallel to Ox is considered at a distance from it
equal toℎ =
It is fulfilled if L=0 then = =ℎ where C1= 0
where from C1= 0
Catenary Formulas
a = Vano o claro en (m) f = Flecha (m)
H = Mechanical tension at the lowest point of the catenary (kg)
T = Mechanical tension at points Q and Q' (kg)
W = Peso del cable por metro (kg/m)
L = Longitud del arco de la catenaria Q-Q´ (m)
FORMULAS FOR THE PARABOLA
For spans of up to about 500 meters, the shape of the catenary curve can be equated
in the shape of a parabola, which allows for the saving of some complex mathematical calculations,
obtaining, however, more than sufficient accuracy.
With the substitution of the parabola instead of the catenary and for spans less than 400 m, that
it is very common and with deflections less than 3% of the span, the error that is made in the
the determination of the deflection is on the order of 0.1%
The catenary must necessarily be used in spans greater than 1000 meters.
length, since the larger the span, the lesser the similarity between the catenary and the parabola.
The value of the tension T is the working tension, which must in no way exceed the
breaking tension of the cable (TR), otherwise it would break. So, since
the cable should never operate under conditions close to breaking, a
certain coefficient of safety (CS) such that
The High Voltage Line Regulation allows for minimum safety coefficients.
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