Non-destructive testing of mining ropes: technical and economical aspects

The mining industry is one of the main applications for different ropes. Safety of these wire ropes is an indispensable requirement to maintain the equipment in a functioning condition. For this reason wire ropes must be replaced before they become dangerous, i.e. as soon as they reach their retirement criteria. For different reasons ropes are sometimes discarded even though they did not reach the retirement criteria. However premature action leads to extra cost: the replaced rope could be still in use, while the new rope and its installation in the mining application are costly, time-consuming actions. Timely replacement of the rope is possible on basis of a knowledge of the real rope condition. The rope condition can be detected during examination of rope both visually and by special instrumentation for nondestructive testing (NDT). The owners of the ropes not only look after their safety but also care about expenses concerned with rope use. Use of special instrumentation for rope inspection gives the customer objective information to ensure the safety and to avoid extra expenses from early rope discard. Thus, knowledge of the rope condition enables the owner to make right decision regarding the rope, which is an advantage as for safety and economical aspects.

Author(s): A. Mironenko, & Sukhorukov, V.