Cable or Wire Rope, Minimum Tensile Strength 2

[Tajudeen]

I have a 1" diameter strand on an existing 1970s rehabilitated cable/wire rope bridge that I am analyzing. I know that the steel material is not of A36 type. I am looking for help in coming up with the minimum tensile strength. Please help.

 

[JStephen]

I would think you'd either need to test it or locate drawings and mill test reports for the job. You can buy wire rope in different grades, and I would assume that a suspension bridge built 30 years ago could very easily be something beside the standard grades.

 

[oldrunner]

Cable is never A36. You will really need to identify the particular type. 6x7 and 6x19 IWRC rope, 1" dia. has a breaking strength of 45.7 tons while galvanized bridge strand has a BS of 46.0 tons. The modulus of elasticity can vary from 13E6 to 21E6.

Refer to the Wire Rope Engineering Handbook published by USS United States Steel. There's also more to the design, such a cable anchorage, sheave diameter etc. Also, factor of saftys vary with the use.

The standard grades that I quoted from the manual was re-published in 1968.

 

[KCRatnayake]

Dear Oldrunner,
You have the link to the Wire Rope Engineering Handbook?

Regards
Clefcon

 

[Tajudeen]

Thanks JStephen, Oldrunner and Clefcon for your excellent input. I went into the Sliderule Era website and obtained the Wire Rope Engineering Handbook. Again thanks.