Cable Pulling Analysis

You can perform what-if scenarios for pulling conductors of various sizes through conduit using Cable Pulling Analysis. You can modify what-if parameters to create a variety of scenarios, thus allowing you to choose the optimal cable pulling plan. As an added check, the tool compares the results of each scenario to maximum allowable pulling tensions and sidewall bearing pressure. The process flags any results that fall outside the maximum allowable parameters. Cable pulling analysis is available for two pull methods including pulling eye and per cable and multiple cable basketweave grip.

Cable pulling calculations are what-if scenarios, so they will not affect the data in your map. You may save the scenarios to be referenced later and print reports for use in the field.

The what-if parameters include a mix of the following:

Cable type
Neutral cable type
Number of cables to pull
Cable covering material
Pull type (bend vs. straight upward, downward, horizontal)
Cable length
Bending angle and radius
Offset angle
Conduit size
Conduit type
Coefficient of friction

The cable pulling analysis displays the following results per conduit section for pulling eye and basketweave grip pull methods:

Forward and reverse pulling tension
Forward and reverse sidewall bearing pressure
Cable clearance
Inside bending radius
Pulling configuration (single, triangular, cradled, diamond)
Weight correction factor
Jam probability

IMPORTANT: When opening the Cable Pulling Analysis tool, you may receive an error message about missing tables. This means the appropriate tables haven't been added to your database. See Configure Cable Pulling Analysis in the ArcFM Solution help in ArcCatalog.

If you are using tables stored in your geodatabase, ArcFM disables Cable Pulling if you aren’t logged in. Logging in to the geodatabase or having a registry key pointing to a valid database file will enable Cable Pulling. See the Configuring ArcFM Solution online help in ArcCatalog.

Perform Cable Pulling Analysis

The Cable Pulling Analysis tool ships with Designer and allows you to perform "what-if" scenarios for pulling conductors of various sizes through conduit. Because Cable Pulling Analysis calculations are what-if scenarios, you do not need to have a map open or features selected. The results of the analysis do not affect the data in your map.

Getting Familiar with the Cable Pulling Analysis Interface

The Cable Pulling Analysis interface is divided into the following four main frames:

Cable/Neutral: This frame allows you to select the cable type, neutral type, number of cables, and covering material for your "what-if" scenario. The cable type, neutral type, and cable number combination determines the maximum allowable tension and sidewall bearing pressure values displayed in the Maximum Allowable frame.
Conduit Sections: This frame accepts input for a mixture of pull types, cable lengths, bending angles, bending radii, offset angles, conduit sizes, conduit types, and coefficient of friction values for your "what-if" scenario. Each row represents one conduit section. Each time you enter the required values for a conduit section and click Apply, the Cable Pulling Analysis tool performs tension, sidewall bearing pressure, cable clearance, inside bending radius, pulling configuration, weight correction factor, and cable jam probability calculations. These calculation results appear in the Results Per Conduit Section frame. The tension, sidewall bearing pressure, and cable clearance fields are highlighted in red when the calculations expose a violation to the maximum allowable standards. Likewise, fields in the Maximum Allowable frame will appear in red when the calculations uncover violations to the maximum allowable tension and/or sidewall bearing pressure.
Maximum Allowable: The Maximum Allowable frame displays the selected cable's maximum allowable values for pulling eye tension, grip tension (per cable) grip tension (multiple cables), and sidewall bearing pressure. This section is not editable. Fields in the Maximum Allowable frame will appear in red when the Conduit Sections calculations uncover violations to maximum allowable tensions and/or sidewall bearing pressure.
Results Per Conduit Section: The Cable Pulling Analysis tool uses the conduit section values to calculate forward pulling tension, forward sidewall bearing pressure, reverse pulling tension, reverse sidewall bearing pressure, cable clearance, inside bending radius, pulling configuration, weight correction factor, and cable jam probability. These calculations are executed for pulling eye and basketweave grip pull types. The information specific to each grip pull type is contained on a corresponding tab. On these tabs, the tension, sidewall bearing pressure, and cable clearance fields are highlighted in red when the Conduit Sections calculations expose a violation to the maximum allowable standards.

Performing a Cable Pulling Analysis

Click the Cable Pulling button on the Designer toolbar.
Select a cable type. If the type you select does not include a neutral type, the Neutral Type field will appear.
Enter a neutral type, if necessary. This field will not appear if the cable you selected has a neutral type included with it.
Enter the number of cables that may be pulled through the conduit. This field will include only valid values for the selected cable.
Enter a covering material.
Click Create in the Conduit Sections frame to enter a row. The row is added with default information for a conduit section with a bend. Change any or all of the parameters according to your preference. Make sure to enter a value in the ID column. This can be any value you choose to uniquely identify the conduit section. Refer to Table 1 for information pertaining to the conduit section parameters including ID, Pull Type, Length, Bending Angle, Bending Radius, Offset Angle, Conduit Size, Conduit Type, Coefficient of Friction, and Total Length. Refer to Table 2 for information pertaining to the calculation results.
Click Apply. All parameters for a conduit section must be entered before the Apply button is enabled. You must click Apply before you can enter another conduit section. When creating a row, prior rows are not editable until you click Apply.

TIP: Apply also saves changes you make to any editable field and then performs the analysis calculations.

You may save analysis scenarios to a file or print reports for Conduit Sections or Results Per Conduit Section.

The following example depicts how the Cable Pulling Analysis calculations alert you to problems concerning one or more values you've entered in the Conduit Sections frame. From the fields highlighted in red, we know that Pulling Eye Tension, Grip Tension (per cable), and Grip Tension (multiple cables) calculations exceed the maximum allowable values. To determine which conduit section(s) and which value(s) are causing the alerts, we refer to the correlating tabs on the Results Per Conduit Section frame. From these tabs, we learn that the maximum allowable value for forward pulling tension is violated for all three pull types. We also see that the maximum allowable value for reverse pulling tension is exceeded with the Grip (per cable) pull type.

Maximum allowable alerts for Pulling Eye Tension, Grip Tension (per cable), and Grip Tension (multiple cables)

Pulling Eye tab: Maximum allowable alert for forward pulling tension on conduit section DD

Grip (per cable) tab: Maximum allowable alert for forward pulling tension on conduit section DD and reverse pulling
tension on conduit section AA.

Grip (multiple cables) tab: Maximum allowable alert for forward pulling tension on conduit section DD.

Table 1: Conduit Section Parameters

Column	Description	Input	Error	Action
ID	A value that uniquely identifies each section of conduit	Value is entered by the user	Apply button not enabled	Enter a unique value in the ID column.
Pull Type	A pull type such as bend, straight downward, straight upward, or straight horizontal.	Value is selected from a list of options	Message: Invalid Transition	Change the pull type to a valid configuration. An example of an invalid configuration is Straight Horizontal to Straight Upward.
Length	The length of the conduit section expressed in feet	Value is entered by user for Pull Types other than bend. If Pull Type is bend, the length is automatically derived from the Bending Angle and Bending Radius values. The field may not have a value greater than 99,999.
Bending Angle	The angle of bend expressed in degrees	Value is entered by the user when Pull Type is bend. If Pull Type is other than bend, the value is automatically entered as N/A. The field may not have a value greater than 360.
Bending Radius	The bending radius expressed in feet	Value is entered by the user when Pull Type is bend. If Pull Type is other than bend, the value is automatically entered as N/A.
Offset Angle	The angle offset expressed in degrees	Value is entered by the user for Pull Types other than bend. If Pull Type is bend, the value is automatically entered as N/A
Conduit Size	The diameter of the conduit in inches	Value is entered by the user.	Message: Conduit size violates the minimum standard for this cable. Do you want to continue?	You have entered a conduit size that is less than the minimum standard. Select Yes if you want to continue. Select No if you want to enter a different conduit size.
Conduit Type	A list of conduit types such as fiberglass, PE, PVC, and steel	Value is selected from a list of options
Coefficient of Friction	The coefficient of dynamic friction between the cable and conduit. This parameter takes into account the uneven weight distribution and relative position of multiple cables in the conduit.	Value is entered by the user

Table 2: Results Per Conduit Section (for pulling eye and basketweave grip types)

Column	Description	Associated Editable Parameters
ID	The conduit section ID	ID
Forward Pulling Tension	The amount of tension on a cable being pulled forward through a section of conduit	Cable Type, Number of Cables, Covering Material, Pull Type, Length, Offset Angle, Conduit Size, Conduit Type, Coefficient of Friction
Forward Sidewall Bearing Pressure	The radial pressure experienced by the cable as it is pulled forward through a curved section. Sidewall Bearing Pressure (SWBP) is calculated using the inside radius of the conduit, the inside bending radius, and the tension exiting the bend. SWBP should not exceed 500 lb/ft for uncovered cable and 600 lb/ft for jacketed cable.	Cable Type, Number of Cables, Covering Material, Pull Type, Bending Angle
Reverse Pulling Tension	The amount of tension on a cable being pulled backward through a section of conduit	Cable Type, Number of Cables, Covering Material, Pull Type, Length, Offset Angle, Conduit Size, Conduit Type, Coefficient of Friction
Reverse Sidewall Bearing Pressure	The radial pressure experienced by the cable as it is pulled backward through a curved section.Sidewall Bearing Pressure (SWBP) is calculated using the inside radius of the conduit, the inside bending radius, and the tension exiting the bend. SWBP should not exceed 500 lb/ft for uncovered cable and 600 lb/ft for jacketed cable.	Cable Type, Number of Cables, Covering Material, Pull Type, Bending Angle
Cable Clearance	Clearance between the conduit wall and cable	Cable Type, Number of Cables, Conduit Size
Inside Bending Radius	Inside bending radius of the conduit expressed in feet	Bend Pull Type, Bending Radius, Conduit Size

Pulling Configuration	The relative position of the cables in the conduit (triangular, cradled, and diamond)	Cable Type, Neutral Type, Number of Cables
Weight Correction Factor	Adjustment to the sidewall bearing pressure caused by uneven weight distribution of a single cable in a multiple cable pull	Cable Type, Number of Cables
Cable Jam Probability	Probability of cable jamming based on a ratio and expressed as low, medium, and high	Cable Type, Conduit Size

Save Scenario

You can save analysis scenarios and recall them later.

Select File > Save or Save As.
Browse to the location where you want to save the file.
Type a file name (it will have a .cbl extension) and click Save.

To open a saved file, click File > Open and browse to the file (it must have a .cbl extension).

TIP: You can copy analysis information you select and paste it into another application using the Copy Conduit Sections and Copy Results Per Conduit Section menu options. You can also select rows and type Ctrl+C on the keyboard to copy the rows along with the column titles to the clipboard. ArcFM copies both the selected sections and the corresponding results. You can paste the information into a spreadsheet application (such as Excel), and the values will appear in their own cells.

Print Cable Pulling Report

Cable pulling offers two reports: Conduit Sections and Results Per Conduit Section. You can print or preview these reports. Select from the File menu.

IMPORTANT: You must have a default printer designated to successfully print or print-preview reports.

Conduit Sections: This report shows the type of conduit for the selected scenario.

Results per Conduit Section: This report shows the results for the selected scenario.