EVALUATION OF THE MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF STEEL WIRE ROPE DURING ITS OPERATION IN THE MINING INDUSTRY

Abstract

The control of the technical condition of the lifting steel ropes is important for the safe operation and for the correct functioning of the machines in which they work. 
Most often, the stresses in the ropes depend on the tension force, the construction and diameter of the rope, the number of wires in the rope, etc. All these factors are important in the control and monitoring of a given lifting rope during operation, to adequately and timely assess the quality of the rope, its remaining operational resource, and from there to assess its working capacity.
The research is aimed at evaluating the performance and reliability of a real working wire steel rope intended for the mining industry. The behaviour of a real working rope was followed for different periods of time until it was retired, and results were obtained for its real operational properties, in comparison with those before use.
The breaking force and tensile strength of the rope wires, as well as their plasticity, flexibility and resistance to bending throughout the period of in-service monitoring, were determined.