JIMMA UNIVERSITY

JIMMA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

FACULTY OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING
MATERIAL HANDLING EQUIPMENT INDIVIDUAL ASSEIGNMENT

NAME ID
SIRAWDINK GETACHEW …….………….RU2197/12

Submitted to Mr. Abel

Submission date November 24, 2023
1. List all kinds of wire ropes and explain their advantages and drawbacks in
detail with the help of sketches
▪ Wire rope : A wire rope is a type of cable that consists of several strands of metal wire
twisted or braided together to form a helix. It is a versatile and robust component widely
used in various applications where strength, flexibility, and durability are essential.
Wire ropes are commonly composed of steel or other metals, and they come in different
configurations to suit specific purposes.

1.1.General Purpose Steel Wire Ropes

Steel wire ropes general purpose is to provide a versatile and reliable means of lifting,
hoisting, securing, and supporting heavy loads in a variety of industries. Steel wire
ropes are made up of multiple strands of steel wire twisted or braided together, creating
a robust and flexible structure. Their design and material composition contribute to
their strength, durability, and resistance to wear and corrosion.

Advantages
✓ have remarkable strength, allowing them to handle big loads and provide dependable
performance in demanding situations. When compared to other types of ropes, they have a
better strength-to-weight ratio, enabling for efficient lifting and load-bearing capabilities.
✓ Steel wire ropes are extremely strong and can survive tough environmental conditions such
as high temperatures, dampness, and chemical exposure. They are wear, corrosion, and UV
radiation resistant, resulting in a longer operational lifespan and lower maintenance
requirements.
✓ Flexibility: Although steel wire ropes are strong, they also have some pliability. This
flexibility facilitates handling, installation, and maneuverability, particularly in
applications where the rope must be bent or wrapped.

Drawbacks

✓ Steel wire ropes are heavier than ropes composed of other materials, such as synthetic
fibers. Steel wire ropes' weight can make handling and installation more difficult,
particularly for longer lengths or in applications where weight reduction is a goal.
 ✓ Limited Flexibility: While steel wire ropes have some flexibility, they are often less
flexible than ropes with fiber cores or synthetic substitutes. Because of their limited
flexibility, they may be less appropriate for applications requiring delicate bending or
routing around tight corners or sheaves.
✓ Corrosion Resistance: While steel wire ropes are engineered to withstand corrosion, they
are nonetheless prone to rust and oxidation if not properly stored.

Figure 1.1 Steel Wire Rope

1.2.Non-spinning Wire Ropes

Non-spinning wire ropes, also known as rotation-resistant wire ropes or anti-rotation wire ropes,
are a specialized type of wire rope designed to minimize or eliminate the rotational movement
commonly associated with standard wire ropes.

Advantages

✓ Load Stability: Non-spinning wire ropes have better load stability than normal wire ropes.
They improve control and stability during lifting, rigging, and load-bearing tasks by
minimizing or eliminating rotating movement. This greater stability allows for more
precise load positioning and lowers the possibility of uncontrolled swinging or twisting.
✓ Reduced Wear and Fatigue: Standard wire ropes' rotational movement can cause
increased wear and fatigue on the rope's surface. Non-spinning wire ropes have less friction
and abrasion due to their reduced or abolished rotation, resulting in less wear and a longer
service life. This benefit translates to fewer maintenance costs and more production.
✓ Easier Handling and Operation: Because of its lower inclination to spin, non-spinning
wire ropes are often easier to handle and operate.
 Drawback
✓ Have Less Flexibility: Non-spinning wire ropes are often less flexible than normal wire
ropes. Construction and design that minimize rotation can also limit the rope's bending and
flexibility. This lower flexibility may make maneuvering past sheaves, pulleys, or other
tight places difficult, restricting their applicability for some applications that need high
degrees of flexibility.
✓ Higher Cost: Non-spinning wire ropes are often more expensive than ordinary wire ropes.
The specific construction and design necessary to provide anti-rotation qualities frequently
necessitates the use of additional production methods and materials, raising the overall cost
of the rope. This increased cost may have an impact on the practicality and affordability of
employing non-spinning wire ropes, especially in budget-constrained projects.
✓ Installation Specification Non-spinning wire ropes may have installation requirements.

Figure 1.2 Non-spinning Wire Ropes

1.3. Wire Ropes with Flattened Strands

Wire ropes with flattened strands are a type of wire rope construction where the individual
wire strands have a flattened cross-sectional shape instead of the more common round shape. In
this construction, the wires are intentionally flattened during the manufacturing process to create
a wider, flatter profile.

Advantages

✓ Increased Strength: Compacted wire ropes often have greater strength than round-strand
equivalents. The reduction in empty space and greater material distribution contribute to
increased tensile strength.
✓ Improved Fatigue Resistance: The compacting process reduces internal stresses inside
the wire rope, increasing its fatigue resistance. This is especially useful in applications
where the rope is bent or flexed repeatedly.
✓ Abrasion Resistance: The denser structure of wire ropes with flattened strands provides
superior abrasion resistance. As a result, they are appropriate for situations in which the
rope may come into touch with abrasive surfaces, such as mining or construction.
✓ Better Crushing Resistance: Flattened strands are more resistant to crushing forces. This
is useful in instances where the wire rope may be damaged.

Drawback

✓ Reduced Flexibility: When compared to standard round-strand wire ropes, the process of
compacting strands might lead to a reduction in flexibility. Reduced flexibility may be an
issue in situations where great flexibility is required, such as certain lifting and rigging
scenarios.
✓ Flattened strands can lead to enhanced wire rope stiffness. This stiffness may influence
handling comfort and may be an issue in applications where the rope must traverse through
sheaves, pulleys, or other components with small bending radii.
✓ Flattened strands may increase contact pressure on sheaves and drums, resulting in faster
wear on these components. This can be a problem in programs that are used frequently or
heavily, potentially affecting the performance.

Figure 1.3 Wire Ropes with Flattened Strands

 1.4. Locked-coil Steel Wire Ropes

Locked-coil steel wire ropes, also known as wire strand ropes or non-rotating ropes, are a type of
steel wire rope designed to minimize rotation during operation. These ropes are constructed using
multiple layers of helically-laid wire strands, and each layer is wound in the opposite direction to
the adjacent ones. This design helps to counteract the inherent rotational forces that can occur in
standard wire ropes.

Advantages

✓ Reduced Rotation: The ability of locked-coil steel wire ropes to limit or eliminate
rotational tendencies during operation is its principal advantage. This is critical in
applications where rotation can be dangerous or accurate load management is required,
such as crane operations.
✓ Stability is improved by the counter-helical arrangement of the strands in locked-coil ropes.
This stability is especially useful while lifting or handling heavy weights since it aids
control and prevents unwanted twisting or spinning.
✓ Load Control: The reduced rotation of locked-coil ropes adds to greater load control,
making them appropriate for applications requiring precise load positioning and
movement.
✓ Locked-coil steel wire ropes are noted for their great tensile strength, making them useful
for a variety of applications.
Drawback
✓ Locked-coil steel wire ropes are often more expensive to make than conventional wire
ropes. The additional processing and materials required to create a non-rotating design can
add to the cost.
✓ Less Flexibility: When compared to ordinary wire ropes, the structure of locked-coil ropes,
which is meant to limit rotation, can result in less flexibility. Because of this limited
flexibility, they may be unsuitable for applications requiring high flexibility.
✓ Limited Conformity to Sheaves and Drums: The lower flexibility of locked-coil steel
wire ropes may impair their ability to smoothly conform to sheaves and drums, particularly
when the rope must pass through tight locations. This can cause sheaves and drums to wear
down faster.
 Figure 1.4 Locked-coil Steel Wire Ropes
1.5. Plastic Coated Wire Rope
A plastic-coated wire rope is one that has been coated with a layer of plastic or polymer
material to provide additional protection and improve certain performance qualities. The
plastic covering acts as a protective barrier against environmental variables such as
moisture, chemicals, and abrasion, extending the wire rope's longevity and resilience. This
type of coating is frequently applied to conventional steel wire ropes to improve corrosion
and wear resistance.
Advantages
✓ Corrosion Resistance: The plastic coating functions as a barrier, protecting the
underlying steel wires from corrosion caused by moisture, chemicals, and harsh
weather conditions. This increases the wire rope's service life, making it
appropriate for outdoor and marine applications.
✓ Abrasion Resistance: The plastic covering adds another layer of abrasion
resistance to the wire rope, minimizing wear and tear. This is especially useful in
applications where the rope comes into touch with rough surfaces, reducing
damage and increasing overall lifespan.
✓ Increased Safety: The plastic coating decreases the possibility of harm from sharp
wire edges. It gives a smooth and rounded surface, making the wire rope easier to
handle and less likely to cause harm to humans or property.

Drawback

✓ Reduced elasticity: The plastic coating can contribute to a reduction in wire rope
elasticity, especially when compared to untreated wire ropes. This decrease in
 elasticity may limit the usage of plastic-coated ropes in situations requiring great
flexibility.
✓ Cracking and peeling: The plastic coating may crack and peel over time,
especially in applications that are heavily used or exposed to extreme climatic
conditions. This can jeopardize the coating's protective characteristics.
✓ Inspection Difficulties: The plastic coating may make it difficult to visually
inspect the underlying wire rope for signs of wear, corrosion, or other problems.
This can make determining the general condition of the wire rope difficult.
✓ Some plastic materials have limited temperature resistance.

Figure 1.5 Plastic Coated Wire Rope