Abstract: To reasonably design the longitudinal curves of cable saddles and improve the control precision in construction, the design of longitudinal curves composed of compound arcswas developed based on the analytical solutions for elastic catenary. Under the condition of given distances or horizontal distances between the turning point and the two tangential points on main saddle, or given arc radii of anchorage cable saddles, a nonlinear equation corresponding to a main saddle and two nonlinear equations corresponding to anchorage saddle were respectively derived from equilibrium conditions and geometrical relations. The corresponding drawingmethod was proposed to each case. The result shows that it is easier to design amain saddle if the horizontal distances are given.