Bending lifetime prediction method for HMPE rope solutions

Synthetic fiber ropes have been attracting increasing attention over the last decade as steel wire replacements. Many investigations and publications have already shown their benefit over steel wire ropes in terms of weight and cost reductions, ease of handling and energy savings. However, the number of applications switched over to synthetic fiber ropes is still lagging. One of the factors behind this slow market introduction is the lower availability of reliable tools and methods to engineer with synthetic fiber ropes. To reduce this barrier Avient Protective Materials has been developing a framework for predicting rope lifetime under repetitive bending conditions. The theoretical background of the method will be explained. Next, the approach for calibrating the method will be described. The application of the method in the engineering phase and in the line management system is demonstrated for a Deep-Water Installation crane.

The development of this framework contributed to improving the confidence in applying synthetic fiber ropes in the Deep-Water Installation market segment and it is suitable for application in other markets as well.

Author(s): M.Meuwissen, R.Bosman, M.Vlasblom, M.Eijssen, S.Leite, S.Bull, O.Haugland, V.Ahjem