I have a situation where I need to model a pipe bridge that id made of cable. The pipe is supported from a horizontal cable by several verticle hanges made from cable. What would be the best way to simulate the flexibility of the horizontal cable and the verticle hanger cables. Right now I don't have any detail drawings of the pipe bridge, but we are working on locating the drawings. The client is worried about how much the line will spring when one of the ends are cut for modification. I will have to have the correct arc in the pipe for this cold spring affect. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks

I noticed you have not yet gotten any responses (could you by any chance provide a picture of the bridge, or what you are talking about etc.?)

I really don't see how you can do this with CAESAR II. The vertical cables (running up from the pipe to the horizontal cable) can be modeled using the "Y Rod" restriants. However, this assumes the top of the "Y Rod" is restrainted. Unfortunately your horizontal cable provides no real restraint since it is going to behave as a catenary - which CAESAR II can't model.

I'd suggest something like ANSYS, which has both pipe elements and cable elements, and can handle large deflection and large rotation.