What factors affect the tension in a zip line?

[daddylange]

Ok so this should be a simple caclulation like those easy tension problems in physics books but i want a more accurate model.

I I am trying to figure out the maximum tension that would occur in a zip line if i knew: (the horizontal distance between trees) - (the load of the person/equipment) - (the wieght of the wire).

this is what I am thinking. use a distributed load across the wire (to model the weight of the cable) and a point load of the wieght of the person/equipment exactly in the middle of the span.

will that suffice to give accurate maximum tension?




also- a lot of times ziplines will end up lower than their starting point (duh) how should i account for this with a maximum tension analysis?

 

[skeleton]

While you are given the distance between the two supports (trees), you should also know the length of the wire (in non-stressed state). Recognize that in the initial state, more tension occurs in the wire the taunter (shorter) the length of wire is between to the anchor points.

You might also need to know the initial speed of the moving weight (man). Recognize what happens to the drooping wire while the man races along it. If the wire were very slack, then there could be an additional tension developing when the man reaches close to the far end of the slack line.