Endurance of high-strength fibre ropes running over pulleys

Summary

ln special cases ropes with low mass and high tensile strength are needed with a high service life while running over pulleys. This paper reports the experiences and the results of bending tests - carried out with different rope forces and diameter ratios D/d with a fibre rope made of high strength polyethylene fibre. The possible discard criteria will be discussed. Included is a comparison with bending tests in a completely new generation of high strength fibre ropes. These new ropes each reach a higher number of bending cycles until breakage than the polyethylene rope. ln specific cases these ropes also show bending test endurance superior to a good wire rope by a factor of 100.

Author: K. H. Wehking