The evaluation of synthetic fiber rope for a proposed deep water salvage operation
- National Engineering Lab., Glasgow (United Kingdom)
Presented in this paper is a test program which was conducted to assess the performance of a 68 mm diameter six strand Twaron rope with polyester covers. The loading conditions were chosen to approximate those which the rope would experience if used for a particular deep water salvage operation. A special rig was designed to carry out bend over sheave tests and also generate tension differences within the rope as it passed over steel shaves which had a root diameter of 2,040 mm; thus providing a D/d of 30:1. The test program consisted of five phases which were specified by the client. The practicalities of carrying out each test phase was the responsibility of NEL. When subjected to bend over sheave conditions, the life of the rope was considerably enhanced by keeping it wet with ordinary tap water. The average life of three dry ropes, subjected to bend over sheave conditions, was 933 cycles, whereas the rope which was kept wet reached 2,800 cycles without failing. Reductions in diameter in the order of 5% occurred during the bend over sheave tests. Ovality was present in each of the ropes as a result of moving contact with the sheaves. During a tension-tension fatigue test around sheaves the ropes, one wet and one dry, achieved 311 and 580 cycles without failure. The results of friction tests show clearly the change in the high tension on the rope in transition from a static condition to a full sliding condition.
- OSTI ID:
- 33218
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-930641--; ISBN 0-7918-0785-1
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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