Cables — the Catenary Case

Inside this lesson

State the catenary equation y = a cosh(x/a) with a = H/q
Compute the midspan sag and maximum tension for a self-weighted cable
State when the parabola approximation is accurate (small sag ratio)
Compare catenary and parabola results on a worked example

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Educational content covering topics typical of a first- and second-year mechanical engineering curriculum. Not a substitute for accredited coursework, and not suitable for real structural design without review by a licensed professional engineer.