Comparative analysis of different approaches for computing axial, torsional and bending stiffnesses of cables and wire ropes

Abstract

Abstract In the field of cables and wire ropes modeling, many different approaches have been developed over the years to simulate the mechanical response of such structural components. The present work aims to compare, for a wide range of helix angles, the axial, torsional, axial/torsional coupling, and bending stiffness of a single-layered wire rope, computed through classical analytical models and finite element numerical models. Three different approaches were applied to the numerical models: in the first one, the wires were modeled with beam elements, solid elements were used in the second model, while the third employed solid elements under explicit dynamic conditions. While the numerical beam model yielded results close to the analytical models, decreasing its accuracy for low helix angles, the explicit dynamic model could reproduce with reasonable accuracy the results for the solid element under static behavior.