FATIGUE BEHAVIOUR OF CORRODED ROPE WIRES

Summary

Rotary bending tests are an excellent tool to evaluate the fatigue behaviour of rope wires. Results of rotating bending tests with rope wires can be adapted to estimate the fatigue behaviour of wire ropes. However, rotating bending tests are only suitable for round wires. The fatigue behaviour of un-stranded wires has been investigated extensively. In addition, the fatigue behaviour at a temperature of -80°C has been tested. Stranded rope wires can be tested too if they are straightened before testing. In spite of the out-of-roundness of wires from compacted strands as well as from swaged ropes they can also be tested if they are straightened beforehand. The fatigue behaviour of corroded wires has not yet been investigated as extensively. This paper reports rotary bending tests with rope wires corroded by standard neutral salt spray exposure testing. A mathematical approach to describe the fatigue behaviour of corroded rope wires is proposed.

Key words: rope wires, fatigue behaviour, corrosion, rotary bending tests

Author(s): U. Briem