Four critical factors to consider when selecting wire rope

Bergen Cable has been assisting customers across the globe choose the correct wire rope and cable assemblies for their unique applications for more than 75 years. During the selection process, the company recommends four key criteria that should be considered.

1. Strength. The wire rope must have sufficient strength to take care of the maximum load that may be applied, with a proper safety factor. As the strength of a wire rope is determined by its size, grade and construction, these three factors should also be considered.

2. Safety factors. The wire rope must have the ability to withstand repeated bending without failure of the wire from fatigue. To determine if it does, you must consider the safety factor — the strength of the rope to the working load. A wire rope with a strength of 10,000 pounds and a total working load of 2,000 pounds, for example, would be operating with a safety factor of five. The proper safety factor depends not only on the loads applied, but also on the speed of operation, shock load applied, the type of fittings used for securing the rope ends, the acceleration and deceleration, the length of rope, the number, size and location of sheaves and drums, the factors causing abrasion and corrosion, and the facilities for inspection.

3. Fatigue. Fatigue failure of the wires in a wire rope is the result of the propagation of small cracks under repeated applications of bending loads. The best way to prevent early fatigue of wire ropes is to use sheaves and drums of adequate size. To increase the resistance to fatigue, a rope of more flexible construction should be used.

4. Abrasive wear. The ability of a wire rope to withstand abrasion is determined by the size, the carbon and manganese content, the heat treatment of the outer wires, and the construction of the rope.

After considering these four factors, a proper choice is made by weighing the relative importance of each, and selecting a rope with the qualities best suited to withstand the effects of continued use.

For help selecting the best wire rope for your application, contact Bergen Cable. 

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