Systems and methods for determining manufacturing or operating parameters for a deviated downhole well component, including a method that includes representing a tubular string as nodes separated by segments, determining transfer matrices for determining an ith node's state vector from an ith−1 node's state vector, and defining initial state vector values for the reference node. The nodes are numerable from 1 to N with an initial, mechanically constrained reference node representable with i=0, and each is associated with a state vector describing a corresponding node position and one or more forces present at said node. The method further includes applying the transfer matrices to obtain each of the state vectors' values, deriving from at least one of the state vectors a parameter value for said component, and specifying a component having said parameter value. The parameter value can include a centralizer or stabilizer composition, manufacturing dimensions, or position.