Dynamic characteristics and vibration control of a cable system with substructural interactions

Free and forced vibration analyses of a cable system, which consists of two identical sagged cables in parallel connected by another sagged cross cabl e, are conducted using a modal synthesis method with substructural formulat ion. The analyses are carried out in order to investigate the system behavi or, while paying attention to the substructural interaction. It is shown th at the secondary cable contribution in the system modal damping can be domi nant and can cause greater damping in the case of coupled motion of main an d secondary cables. The importance of the secondary cable in transferring t he energy from one substructure to another through the substructural intera ction is also discussed for the passive control of harmonically forced vibr ation in the main cable. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved .