Simple determination of the axial stiffness for largediameter independent wire rope core or fibre core wire ropes

Raoof and Kraincanic recently developed two somewhat different theoretical models for analysing large-diameter wire ropes with either an independent wire rope core (IWRC) or a fibre core. Most importantly, unlike all of the previously available theories (with their often very lengthy mathematical formulations), very encouraging correlations have been found between Raoof and Kraincanic's theoretical predictions of wire rope axial stiffnesses and a fairly large body of experimental data from other sources, hence providing ample support for the reliability of both theoretical models. Raoof and Kraincanic's original models were, however, computer based and involved certain iterative procedures. This potential drawback for practical applications (in an area where, by tradition, the rule of thumb reigns supreme) is overcome in the present paper, which reports details of some simplified (but still accurate) procedures for predicting the no-slip and/or full-slip axial stiffnesses of wire ropes with either an independent wire rope core or a fibre core, with the proposed formulations being amenable to simple hand calculations using a pocket calculator, which is of value to busy practising engineers.