Dynamics of a cable with an attached sliding mass

Abstract

I describe the development of a three dimensional numerical model of a cable system with an interacting sliding mass. The cable is modelled using a lumped parameter approximation, where the cable is discretised into a collection of viscoelastic point mass elements articulated by frictionless hinges. The sliding mass is modelled as a point mass which is free to move in all three dimensions. The dynamics of the sliding mass are formulated to take into account the constraint provided by the cable, and incorporates a variety of active forces including friction and air drag.