The analysis of termination effects in wire strand using the finite element method

Abstract

A finite element model of a seven-wire strand has been developed for the analysis of termination effects. The cyclic symmetric and antisymmetric features of the strand have been used to reduce the finite element model size. The effects of a fixed-end termination on the contact forces (pressure) and the resulting relative movements between the wires along the contact lines have been determined, taking full account of frictional effects in the spiral strands. The aforementioned factors are thought to be strongly related to the fretting fatigue, wear and energy dissipation under cyclic loads.