Vibration Analysis of Cable-Harnessed Structures: Plate Optimal Wrapping and Cylindrical Shell Continuum Modeling

Abstract

Cables are integral components of modern engineering systems, serving functions that range from transmitting electrical signals to bearing mechanical loads. Their widespread use in aerospace, automotive, civil, and marine applications has made it increasingly important to understand and predict their dynamic influence on host structures. In lightweight spacecraft components, where cables may account for a significant portion of the total mass, inaccurate modeling of cable-structure interactions can compromise control strategies and system reliability. This thesis advances the analytical modeling of cable-harnessed structures and explores optimal cable placement strategies that minimize their dynamic impact, thereby supporting the development of robust control frameworks for aerospace systems and beyond. The thesis can be classified as having two main areas of focus.

The first area focuses on plate structures and the identification of optimal cable wrapping configurations that minimize the dynamic influence of cables on their host plates. An analytical homogenization-based framework is employed to evaluate zigzag and diagonal wrapping patterns, with configurations ranked according to how closely their frequency response functions align with those of bare plates. A detailed parametric study reveals specific wrapping geometries that yield negligible dynamic impact, offering practical strategies for simplifying structural models. These analytical predictions are validated through finite element simulations and experimental modal testing on fabricated specimens, confirming that certain cable arrangements can be implemented without significantly altering the host plate’s vibrational behavior. The combined analytical and experimental results provide a foundation for cable placement strategies that reduce modeling complexity and enhance vibration control in plate-like structures.

The second area introduces the continuum modeling of cable-harnessed cylindrical shell structures. Building on prior work for beams and plates, analytical formulations are derived for shells with cables oriented axially and circumferentially. Using an energy-equivalence homogenization approach, coupled partial differential equations are obtained to describe the dynamic behavior of these systems. Parametric studies are conducted to assess the influence of cable orientation and geometric parameters, with results compared against finite element simulations to verify model fidelity. The findings demonstrate that circumferential cable placement exerts a significantly greater dynamic impact on the host shell than axial placement. This comparative insight highlights the critical role of cable orientation in shell dynamics and establishes a continuum modeling framework that can be extended to more complex cable-harnessed structures.