Steel wire ropes

A steel wire rope is a flexible element used to secure loads during transportation in a vertical, horizontal or diagonal plane. One or more wires are used to make a steel wire rope. The industry uses 3 manufacturing methods: single, double and triple lay. The differences lie in the presence and material of the core.

Types of steel wire ropes

The industry produces 3 types of steel wire ropes:

1. Single lay. These products consist of steel wire twisted spirally into 1 or more layers. Radial wire is used. Shaped wire is regularly added to reinforce the construction.
2. Double lay. Made from single-lay ropes twisted into 3-9 layers. Five-strand ropes are common.
3. Triple lay. Triple-lay steel wire ropes consist of strands — the previous type — combined into a single layer.

Steel wire rope is classified by weaving method:

1. Point contact, where the wires touch each other only at points.
2. Products consisting of layers that connect with each other. The industry name is the linear weaving method. There are 2 types, with equal and different wire diameters, distinguished by the last letter in the designation (O – equal, R – different).
3. Linear weaving with filler wires of uniform and different diameter.
4. TLK is a common type combining the first two types. The wires are in both point and linear contact.

Core materials

Steel wire ropes with an organic core made of natural or synthetic fibers are produced in series: manila, cotton, hemp.

Wire made of high-strength metal is used for manufacturing to GOST 2688. Austenitic steel with corrosion resistance or zinc-plated fastener products are permitted.

Rope operation

Steel wire ropes are the main load-bearing element, applicable in any mechanism, including cranes for lifting, drilling rigs, excavators, and equipment for transporting loads. They are also used as slings or as material for manufacturing lifting elements capable of withstanding loads of over 1 ton.

How to choose a rope?

Requirements for selecting a rope are defined by GOST, which provides an exact classification of rope types used in industry. According to this classification, there are 6 criteria worth paying attention to:

1. Rope purpose. Ropes and steel wire ropes are designed for different load capacities, so it’s important to select the right purpose.
2. Construction type, determined by the number of strands.
3. Lay method.
4. Strength level.
5. Core raw material.
6. Wire strength indicators.

All steel wire ropes are manufactured in accordance with technological regulations approved by government authorities. For example, in GOST 5269 the core must be made only from materials approved under the regulations prescribed by the relevant regulatory document.