IMPACT OF CHANGES IN ROPE PROPERTIES AND ALTERING ON A MULTI-LAYER ROPE DRUM WOUND WITH FIBRE ROPE

Summary

Ensuring operational safety in rope drive systems is imperative, with material reliability being a critical factor. This study investigates the impact of rope altering on mechanical stress in rope drums, emphasizing changes in rope properties over time. Alteration processes in both wire and synthetic fibre ropes significantly influence mechanical characteristics, including longitudinal and lateral elasticity moduli, and friction coefficients. These changes are critical for the load on a multi-layer wound rope drum and, if unmanaged, can lead to unpredictable stress patterns on drums, potentially compromising system safety and functionality. The present research utilizes the Finite Element Method (FEM) to analyse stress distribution in rope drums in both new and used condition. The simulations are validated against experimental data from previous research to provide evidence for the correctness of our simulations. Key objectives include selecting rope properties, calculating drum loads analytically, conducting FEM simulations, and verifying results with experiments. The central finding of this study is that the using related degradation of fibre rope properties, particularly a reduction in longitudinal stiffness, leads to a significant increase in tangential stresses within multi-layer wound rope drums. This highlights the necessity of accounting for the dynamic evolution of fibre rope properties throughout their service life in drum design to ensure operational reliability and safety, especially for lightweight drum systems. This research not only enhances understanding of the interactions between rope altering and drum stress but also offers insights for designing more robust rope drive systems, contributing to both academic literature and practical industry solutions.

Author(s): B. B. Lontsi Nongni, A. Lohrengel

Keywords: rope properties, simulation, drum stress, rope altering