A new cable force identification method considering cable flexural rigidity

Cables are the main load-bearing members of prestressed structure and other tensegrity structures. Based on the static equilibrium principle, a new cable force identification method considering cable flexural rigidity is proposed. Its computational formula is derived and the strategy to solve its implicit formula is introduced as well. In order to improve the reliability and practicality of this method, the influence of the cable flexural rigidity on cable force identification accuracy is also investigated. Through cable force identification experiments, the relationships among certain parameters including jacking force, jacking displacement, initial cable force, and sectional area (flexural rigidity) are studied. The results show that the cable force calculated by the proposed method considering flexural rigidity is in good agreement with the finite element results and experimental results. The proposed method with high computational accuracy and resolution efficiency can avoid the influences of the boundary condition and the length of the cable on calculation accuracy and is proven to be conveniently applied to cable force identification in practice.