Multi-axial fretting fatigue wear mechanisms of steel wires and the protection design

Multi-axial fretting fatigue wear mechanisms of steel wires of hoisting rope and the protection design were explored in the present study. Multi-axial tension-torsion fretting fatigue behaviours of steel wires were investigated employing the self-made test rig. In order to quantitatively explore wear mechanisms of fatigue wires, and evolutions of wear scar size, wear depth and wear coefficient, surface morphologies of fatigue wires at distinct fatigue cycles were observed using the high speed digital microscopic system, three-dimensional white light interferometer and the scanning electron microscope. The results show that increases of fatigue cycles induce increases in the wear scar size and wear depth of fatigue wire, and an increase at first and then stabilization of wear coefficient. The contact status between contacting wires runs in the partial slip regime. The dissipated energy caused by tensile stress decreases with increasing fatigue cycles. The dissipated energy due to shear stress is relatively large during the whole test, which indicates the significant effect of shear stress on multi-axial fretting fatigue damage of fatigue wire. Wear mechanisms are mainly abrasive wear, adhesion wear, oxidation wear and fatigue wear.