A model for the structure of round-strand wire ropes

The behaviour of wire ropes used in mine hoisting is not well understood. ln an effort to improve this understanding, the structure of round-strand wire ropes was analyzed. This report provides a generalized mathematical model that completely describes the geometry of the wires. It consists of two sets of vector equations and is valid for any round-strand wire rope. One set of equations is used to trace the paths of wires that have the form of a single helix. The other is used for the paths of double helical wires. The specific model for a 33-mm 6x19 Seale, IWRC, right regular lay wire rope was presented as an example. The paths and the geometric properties of the wires which include the path length per lay of strand, the curvature, and the torsion were determined from this model. ln future work, the model could be used to conduct stress analysis for the wires in the deformed rope at a given rope strain and also to study the effect of wear and breaking of wires on strength lass for the various round strand

wire ropes used in mine hoisting.

Author(s): Wang, R.C., McKewan, W.M.