FEM WITH SPLINE FUNCTION FOR NONLINEAR ANALYSIS OF CONTINUOUS LONG CABLES

In this paper the reflection relationships between the local and global co-ordinate systems of 3D cables were established. The third order B spline function was adopted to constitute the isoparametric FE model of cables. An assumed initial stress technique was developed to overcome the difficulties in finding initial equilibrium state of cables. The nonlinear problems of taut and slack continuous cables and cable systems can be satisfactorily solved.