Finite element modeling of elevator wire rope to reproduce the radial-direction stiffness

Abstract

We have investigated the finite element modeling for the elevator wire rope 8×S(19) to reproduce the stiffnesses in both axial and radial directions. In order to validate the finite element calculation, compression test to measure the radial-direction stiffnesses of strand, fiver core and wire rope have been newly proposed. From the experimental result of strand, it is found that the radial-direction stiffness is greatly lower than axial-direction one and is affected by the contact situation between wires. It is also found that our finite element model well reproduce the stiffnesses of strand in the both directions. From the experimental result of fiber core, it is found that load-displacement curve in the radial direction involves a hysteresis, reflecting the mechanical property of fiber. The fiber core is modeled as an elastic body with the Young modulus of 300 MPa. From the experimental result of wire rope, load-displacement curve in the radial direction involves a hysteresis as well as the fiber core and the stiffness is similar with that of the fiber core. The stiffness increases as the tension of wire rope is increased. That is due to the strong contacts between wires and between strand and fiber core. Assembled finite element model of wire rope well reproduces the stiffnesses of wire rope in the both directions.

Keywords

• finite element method
• wire rope
• contact problem
• elevator
• wire