Simplified Numerical Model for Determining Load-Bearing Capacity of Steel-Wire Ropes.

Area of Science:

• Mechanical Engineering
• Materials Science
• Computational Mechanics

Background:

• Steel wire ropes are critical mechanical components where load-bearing capacity is a key safety parameter.
• Traditional experimental testing for static load-bearing capacity is costly and has machine limitations.
• Existing numerical models using volume elements (3D) are computationally intensive for practical applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a simplified static numerical model for evaluating steel rope load-bearing capacity.
• To reduce the computational complexity and time required for accurate load-bearing capacity assessment.
• To provide a practical and efficient alternative to experimental testing and complex 3D finite element models.

Main Methods:

• Development of a static numerical model utilizing beam elements instead of volume elements.
• Application of the simplified model to analyze two distinct steel rope constructions: 1x37 single strand and 6x7-WSC multi-strand.
• Evaluation of rope displacement and plastic strains at various load levels.

Main Results:

• The simplified beam element model successfully evaluates the static load-bearing capacity of steel ropes.
• The model provides accurate predictions of rope response, including displacement and plastic strain.
• Significant reduction in computational time compared to traditional volume element finite element methods.

Conclusions:

• The proposed simplified numerical model offers an accurate and computationally efficient method for determining the static load-bearing capacity of steel wire ropes.
• This approach enhances the practical usability of numerical simulations in engineering applications involving steel ropes.
• The beam element-based model serves as a valuable tool for analyzing rope performance and safety.