A minimum principle for tractions in the elastostatics of cable networks (Q1087040)

A constrained extremum principle for the elastostatics of cable networks is formulated. A convex, non-differentiable functional involving only static variables is shown to attain its minimum on a convex set, in correspondence of the solution of the problem. Taking into account slackening of cables, existence and uniqueness are proved for the solution. Finite element models can be developed on the grounds of the theory, as shown in some examples.