Modelling Tension and Torque Properties of Fibre Ropes and Splices

C M Leech and J W S Hearle, M S Overington and S J Banfield

Abstract

Traditionally rope design and selection has been an empirical craft, but this is no longer adequate when the choices have multiplied into hundreds of thousands and severe engineering demands apply to some uses, especially for long periods off-shore.

This paper outlines a quasi-static analysis which has been developed for structured ropes and embodied in computer codes for prediction of the quasi-static and long-term properties of ropes. In this fundamental stage the codes compute tension and torque from their dependence on elongation and twist, thereby allowing the breakage of both ropes and splices to be predicted and improved designs developed.

View Paper (PDF - 135k)