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Identification of Steel Wire Rope - Construction and Classification

Wire ropes are identified primarily by construction. The number of strands and the geometric arrangement of wires within the strands make up the wire rope construction.

The more common constructions are shown above. Note that each construction can have more wires than shown, but the geometry remains the same. For example, there can be two operations ropes having more than 19 wires; there can be Seale ropes having more than 19 wires; there can be Warrington ropes having more than 19 wires and there can be Filler Wire types having more (or less) than 25 wires. Here are the basic constructions.

Each of the above possesses unique characteristics which must be considered when selecting rope or strand for a job. The specific geometric construction selected depends on the destructive factors present on the job.

 

Wire Rope Construction 

The most common factors, abrasion and fatigue, create conflicting requirements. Small (more numerous) outer wires resist fatigue but are easily worn through by abrasion. Larger outer wires have superior abrasion resistance but are more quickly broken by bending and flexing. The difference in outer wire size is seen between the 6 x 19 Seal and 6 x 25 Filler Wire constructions. The nine outer wires in the Seale strands are clearly larger than the 12 outer wires in the Filler Wire strands. Other destructive factors must be considered: peening, corrosion, heat, crushing and shock loads.

 

Classification

Each wire rope construction falls within a classification. Classifications are identified by the number of strands and nominal number of wires. The actual number of wires must fall within a range specified for the given class. For example, ropes within the 6 x 19 class contain 6 strands made up of 15 through 26 wires of which no more than 12 are outside wire. The 6 x 19 Seale and 6 x 25 Filler Wire constructions therefore are both within this class. The more common classifications are 7 x 7, 7 x 19, 6 x 26, 6 x 36 and 19 x 7. 

 

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