The mechanical behavior of a wire rope with an independent wire rope core

A new model for simulating the mechanical response of a wire rope with an independent wire rope core is presented. The rope is subjected to both an axial load and an axial torque. In contrast with previous models that consider the effective response of wound strands, the present model fully considers the double-helix configuration of individual wires within the wound strand. This enables to directly relate the wire level stress to the overall load applied at the rope level. The model assumes a fiber response of individual wires. Two alternative kinematics of the wires are considered, and are used to predict the elastic response of the rope. The postulated kinematics are theoretically validated and the predicted rope response is in agreement with new experimental data. The new model enables the extraction of the stress at the wire level that can be used in turn to estimate global features of the rope such as force interaction between wires, rope stiffness, strength, and fatigue life.     

Control of flow past a circular cylinder via a spanwise surface wire: effect of the wire scale

Flow phenomena induced by a single spanwise wire on the surface of a circular cylinder are investigated via a cinema technique of particle image velocimetry (PIV). The primary aim of this investigation is to assess the effect of the wire scale. To this end, consideration is given to wires with different diameters that are 0.5, 1.2, and 2.9% of the cylinder diameter. The Reynolds number has a subcritical value of 10,000. Compared to the thickness of the unperturbed boundary layer developing around the cylinder between 5° and 75° from the forward stagnation point, the former two wires have smaller scales and the latter has a larger scale. Two angular locations of the wire, defined with respect to the forward stagnation point of the cylinder, are found to be critical. When the wire is located at these critical angles, either the most significant extension or the contraction of the time-mean separation bubble occurs in the near wake. These critical angles depend on the wire scale: the smaller the wire, the larger the critical angle. The small-scale and large-scale wires that have diameters of 1.2 and 2.9% of the cylinder diameter induce bistable shear-layer oscillations between different separation modes when placed at their respective critical angles corresponding to maximum extension of the near-wake bubble. These oscillations have irregular time intervals that are much longer than the time scale associated with the classical Kármán instability. Moreover, the large-scale wire can either significantly attenuate or intensify the Kármán mode of vortex shedding at the critical states; in contrast, the small-scale wires do not notably alter the strength of the Kármán instability.     

Evaluation of X-probe response to wire separation for wall turbulence measurements

Inevitable errors in X-probe measurement are investigated in simulated Gaussian velocity fields generated on a digital computer. Two types of X arrangement are studied: one is a conventional X-probe comprised of two inclined hot wires, and the other consists of inclined and normal hot wires (modified X-probe). The computer simulation results under typical wall-turbulence conditions indicate that the most significant factor producing measurement errors, in both high and low intensity turbulence, is the difference between the instantaneous velocities sensed by the two wires, associated with wire separation. In particular, the measurement accuracy of the modified X-probe depends greatly on the effect of wire separation, and at worst, data obtained with such a probe result in fallacious information. To confirm the error analysis, turbulent quantities in a pipe flow were measured using these X-probes. The experimental results are consistent with the results of the error analysis. Also, based on the present analysis, simple formulae have been developed to estimate inherent errors in X-probe measurements.     

Statically indeterminate contacts in axially loaded wire strand

This paper is concerned with the analysis of simple wire strands made from one layer of circular wires helically wrapped around a circular straight core wire. The undeformed configuration is the special case in which each of the surrounding helical wires touches its two adjacent neighbouring helical wires as well as touching the core wire. This forms a statically indeterminate contact problem. A simple finite element model is developed to analyse this situation. Numerical results show that contacts can occur simultaneously at all possible contact points when the strand is subjected to extension with both ends fixed against rotation.     

Propagation of a longitudinal pulse in wire ropes under axial loads

Measurements of the velocity of propagation of longitudinal pulses in wire ropes as a function of applied tension are reported. Twelve 3/8-in.-diam cables are investigated which differ in configuration, i.e., number of wires per strand and number of strands, and in the material from which the wires and the core are fabricated. The velocity of longitudinal waves is found to increase with increasing tension, approaching the velocity in a solid steel bar as the applied load is increased toward the failure load of the wire rope. The material from which the wires are fabricated and the number of strands, rather than the number of wires in a strand or its core material, appear to significantly affect the velocity of longitudinal pulses.     

Investigation of characteristics of hard x-rays produced during implosions of wire array loads on 1.6 MA Zebra generator

Experimental study of the characteristics of hard x-ray (HXR) emission from multi-planar wire arrays and compact-cylindrical wire arrays (CCWA) plasmas on the 1.6 MA Zebra generator at UNR has been carried out. The characteristics of HXR produced by multi-planar wire arrays such as single, double, and triple planar as well as compact-cylindrical wire arrays made from Al, Cu, brass, Mo, and W were analyzed. Data from spatially resolved time-integrated and spatially integrated time-gated x-ray spectra recorded by LiF spectrometers, x-ray pinhole images, and signals from fast x-ray detectors have been used to study spatial distribution and time history of HXR emission with different loads. The dependence of the HXR yield and power on the wire material, geometry of the load and load mass is observed. Both HXR yield and power are minimum for Al and maximum for W loads. The HXR yield increases with the rise of the atomic number of the material for all loads. The presence of aluminum wires in the load with the main material such as Cu, Mo, or W in combined wire arrays decreases HXR yield. For W plasma, the intensity of cold L-shell spectral lines (1–1.5 Å) correlates with corresponding amplitude of HXR signals which may suggest the evidence of generation of electron beams in plasma. It is found that HXRs are generated from different plasma regions by the interaction of electron-beam with the plasma trailing mass, with the material of anode and due to thermal radiation from plasma bright spots. The theoretical assumption of thermal mechanism of HXR emission predicts the different trends for dependency of HXR power on atomic number and load mass.     

Supersonic flow of a rarefied gas around a wire grid

The direct simulation Monte Carlo method is used to study a plane-parallel supersonic gas flow through a grid formed by a number of infinite parallel wires. Characteristic features of the shock disturbance formation of in the interaction of a supersonic flow with a permeable grid are revealed. Particular attention is paid to studying the influence of geometrical parameters of the wire target on the number of particles colliding with the surface of the wires.     

General axial response of stranded wire helical springs

The large static deflection of an axially loaded helical spring formed of a twisted strand of smooth circular wires is considered. Contact between the wires in the strand may or may not be maintained upon loading, depending upon the type of construction and the type of loading. It is found that the making or breaking of wire contact within the strand has a drastic ettect upon the extension and twist of a wire and upon the extension of the strand, but has practically no effect upon the twist of the strand, and only a moderate effect upon the overall response of the spring. Limited experimental data tend to verify the theory. It is found that a good engineering approximation for the axial stiffness of a twisted m-wire spring in which contact is maintained can be made by treating the spring as m untwisted helical wires acting independently, provided the strand twist is not too severe.     

Some dynamic properties of axially loaded wire ropes

Results are presented on the transverse damping, the transverse fundamental natural frequency as well as the longitudinal fundamental natural frequency for axially loaded wire ropes. Twelve different wire ropes are tested. During the test, a mass is centrally attached to the rope. The results indicate an increasing transverse damping with an increasing axial load. This damping is primarily attributed to a Coulomb damping. Although core material and construction influence the transverse damping of the wire rope, no relationships are found when comparing this damping with the structural strength, the number of wires used in the rope, the alloy composition or the heat treatment of the rope materials. The transverse and longitudinal fundamental natural frequencies of the axially loaded wire ropes with a mass centrally attached has been satisfactorily modeled.     

Effect of interfacial contact forces in radial contact wire strand

A new mathematical model has been developed to predict the behaviour of a stranded cable assembly under the influence of interfacial radial contact forces and radial contraction of the core. A single layered cable assembly with six helical wires and a straight cylindrical core, all made with the same material, Steel has been chosen to explain this phenomenon when the assembly is under the influence of core–wire radial contact. An attempt is made in this paper to model the strand with a radial (core–wire) contact and deduce its equations of equilibrium. Numerical analysis of strand force, twisting moment, strand stiffness, contact force and contact stresses is carriedout based on the equilibrium of thin rods, and the results are compared with the earlier research work. The importance of the inclusion of interfacial forces at the contact locations and their associated effects of axial and twist slip of the helical wires on the core, is highlighted. The behaviour of the stranded cable assembly due to the contact force in the radial direction and its associated effects on the axial strain of the core due to Poisson’s effect is one more additional feature incorporated in the present work.     

Understanding migratory flow caused by helicoid wire spacers in rod bundles: An experimental and theoretical study

The core of a Liquid Metal Fast Breeder Reactor (LMFBR) consists of cylindrical fuel rods that are wrapped by a helicoidally-wound wire spacer to enhance mixing and to prevent damage by fretting. It is known that the liquid metal close to the rod is forced to follow the wires, and that liquid metal further away from the rod crosses the wires (called: migratory flow). This work aims at gaining more insight into the physics behind migratory flow and to provide a model for its bending angle. To this purpose, the flow field in a 7-rods, wire-wrapped, hexagonal bundle with water is studied within the Reynolds number range of 4990–16330 by using Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV). Refraction of the light is minimized by using Fluorinated Ethylene Propylene (FEP), which is a refractive index-matching (RIM) material. These measurements confirm that liquid near the rod follows the helicoid path and bends cross-wise with respect to the wire further away from the rod. A theoretical model for the bending angle of the flow is derived from the Euler equations and shows that the bending is primarily caused by the pressure gradient field induced by the wire. The model shows a very good correspondence with the experimentally obtained PIV data. These findings improve our understanding of the physics at play in rod bundle flows with wrapped wires and can be of assistance in developing practical correlations for frictional pressure losses and heat transfer in such bundles.     

Aluminum micro-particles combustion ignited by underwater electrical wire explosion

The results of experiments on the ignition of aluminum micro-particles’ combustion by underwater electrical wire explosion (UEWE) are reported. A compact sub-microsecond timescale duration high-current (240 kA) pulsed power generator was used to explode copper and aluminum wires electrically in different aluminum powder suspensions. The combustion of the aluminum micro-particles was characterized by a target time-of-flight method and optical measurements of the exploding wire and aluminum suspension light emission. It was shown that, by using a proper solution and type of aluminum powder, this method allows aluminum micro-particle combustion in the estimated range of 32–79 % efficiency.     

The gross hydrostatic-pressure effect as related to foil and wire strain gages

An analysis of gross pressure effect for strain gages is presented. This is defined as the difference between the predicted hydrostatic strain and the experimental strain. Values of the theoretical strain per unit pressure are based on the Voigt-Reuss-Hill approximation using published values of elastic moduli and compliances. These theoretical values are adjusted by the pressure effect calculated from an equation based on the assumption that the pressure effect is independent of the elastic properties of the substrate. The modified values of theoretical strain per unit pressure are then compared with the experimentally observed values. The differences are small except for the substrate materials of zinc, cadmium and lead. Experimental pressure-strain data are presented for constantan foil gages mounted on tungsten, copper, tin, molybdenum, titanium, cadmium, brass, zinc and lead as well as constantan wire gages mounted on steel, aluminum and magnesium for hydrostatic pressures up to 140 ksi. Data for foil and wire gages mounted with various adhesives are presented and show that the adhesive or backing materials appear to have a relatively minor effect on the over-all gage performance.     

Observations on braided thin wire nucleate boiling in microgravity

A microgravity experiment was conducted on the Space Shuttle Endeavor (STS-108) to observe sustained nucleate boiling of water. Subcooled water was boiled with a single strand and a braid of three 0.16 mm diameter and 80 mm long Nichrome resistive wires. A CCD video camera recorded the experiment while six thermistors recorded the temperature of the fluid at various distances from the heating element. This paper reports experimental results in observations, measurements, and data analysis. Bubble explosions were found to take place shortly after the onset of boiling for both the single and braid of wires. The explosion may produce a high heat transfer rate, as it generates a cloud of microbubbles. The number, size, and departure rate of the bubbles from the heater wire were measured and compared with theoretical models as a function of time. The temperature measurements revealed a complex temperature distribution in the fluid chamber due to bubbles ejected from the wire that carried thermal energy close to the temperature sensors. Drag forces on departing bubbles were calculated based on bubble movement and used to predict bubble propagation. Results from this experiment provided further understanding of nucleate boiling dynamics in microgravity for the eventual design and implementation of two-phase heat transfer systems in space applications.     

On the effects of fluid temperature on hot wire characteristics

Subject of this paper is the effect of air temperature on the characteristics of a hot wire. Hot wires of four different lengths have been calibrated over a range of air temperatures from 20 °C to 60 °C. Finite wire length corrections that account for the effects of heat conduction at the ends have been applied to obtain the heat transfer characteristics of an infinitely long heated wire. The reduced data show that the dependence of the heat transfer from an infinitely long heated wire on fluid temperature is such that the Nusselt number vs. Reynolds number relationship, when these are evaluated with property values at the “film temperature”, do not collapse to a single curve. The reduced data show that a linear variation of the heat transfer with a temperature difference corresponds more closely to the experimental observations. Dedicated to Prof. Dr.-Ing. M. Fiebig's 60th birthday     

Degradation of critical current in Bi2212 composite wire under compression load

Since Bi_2Sr_2Ca_1Cu_2O_(8+x)(Bi2212) wires are subject to mechanical loadings,degradation of critical current will occur. The effect of compressive loadings on the critical current of Bi2212 wire is studied by considering micro-buckling of filament. A Bi2212 wire is regarded as a unidirectional filament-reinforced composite in the theoretical analysis.By considering the influence of inclusion, the micro-buckling wavelength can be derived by using a two-dimensional model. Based on the experimental results, the critical current is fitted as a function of buckling wavelength. It is found that the decrease of the critical current is directly proportional to the reciprocal of square of the buckling wavelength.Change of micro-buckling wavelength with material parameters is discussed. A critical strain in the wire with a filament bridge is analyzed using the finite element method.     

基于ASME应变限制准则的小冲杆试验等效断裂应变

为更清楚地了解阳江35kV服役导线的运行状态,从分析导线断线原因出发,通过对老旧导线的单丝断裂强度、弹性模量、应力应变曲线、拉断力、抗拉强度等综合指标的测试与分析,研究服役导线的力学性能,由试验结果得出：35kV老旧导线钢芯的直径变化对于架空导线的外径变化有直接的影响,老旧导线的铝线直径变化较小,其外径增大1.67％~4.24％;钢单线的拉断应力仍能达到标准中规定值的106%,且伸长率也满足要求;部分铝线的抗拉强度低于95%;绞线拉断力仍能达到95%的计算拉断力。但是相同规格下的老旧导线的抗拉强度比新导线的抗拉强度低2%~18%。结果表明：阳江地区服役三十年以上的老旧导线在力学性能上仍能继续承载。     

服役导线的力学性能退化研究

为更清楚地了解阳江35kV服役导线的运行状态,从分析导线断线原因出发,通过对老旧导线的单丝断裂强度、弹性模量、应力应变曲线、拉断力、抗拉强度等综合指标的测试与分析,研究服役导线的力学性能,由试验结果得出:35kV老旧导线钢芯的直径变化对于架空导线的外径变化有直接的影响,老旧导线的铝线直径变化较小,其外径增大1.67%~4.24%;钢单线的拉断应力仍能达到标准中规定值的106%,且伸长率也满足要求;部分铝线的抗拉强度低于95%;绞线拉断力仍能达到95%的计算拉断力。但是相同规格下的老旧导线的抗拉强度比新导线的抗拉强度低2%~18%。结果表明:阳江地区服役三十年以上的老旧导线在力学性能上仍能继续承载。     

Numerical study of heat waves excited by oxidation of a magnesium wire

A mathematical model of ignition of Mg particles and wires is proposed. It is based on the concept of thermal deceleration of the chemical reaction responsible for ignition. It is modeled to the experimental data obtained for the dependence of the radius of a Mg particle on the limiting temperature of the gas. A possibility of propagation of heat waves under heterogeneous oxidation of a Mg wire exposed to an external flow is shown. The existence conditions are written for the travelling wave solution and the self-sustained wave regime is found. It is numerically shown that the ignition wave can be initiated by temperature distributions of stepwise initial data and of Gaussian-shaped form. It is shown that self-sustained waves are stable with respect to small and finite disturbances. Received 25 July 1997 / Accepted 13 July 1998     

On the theory of reflection from a wire grid parallel to an interface between homogeneous media

Summary The reflection from a wire grid parallel to a plane interface is considered. The respective media are homogeneous and either or both can be dissipative. The grid is composed of thin equi-spaced wires of finite conductivity. The plane wave solution for arbitrary incidence is then generalized for cylindricalwave excitation. The energy absorbed from a magnetic line source by a grid situated on the surface of a dissipative half-space is treated in some detail. This latter problem is a two-dimensional analogy of a vertical antenna with a radial wire ground system.