Development of steel-fibre hybrid ropes and the application in mining hoist systems

As we continue moving towards deeper shafts and higher payloads, all hoisting parameters are targets to be optimized. At the initial design phase of a hoisting project, selecting head ropes and their properties are key parameters. A hybrid rope is a steel and fibre combination rope where the fibre is an integrated load-bearing part of the rope. Compared with the same diameter steel rope, hybrid ropes have a lower rope mass per unit length and a higher rope breaking strength. Various synthetic materials are available for this application and have already been tested in hoisting applications. This study shows how the selection of hybrid ropes affects hoist design, cost, energy consumption, safety, and mining companies’ opportunities to increase production. Further, modified or new methodologies required for testing installed hybrid ropes are discussed.

Author(s): P.Wang, H.Schultheis, A.Eelbode, J.Karedan