Abstract
The skips/cages in mine hoisting have to be guided to achieve high hoisting rates. Steel guide ropes are used in hoisting because they can safely guide the skips/cages and have been observed to be economical. Guide ropes are static in nature and are thus more prone to corrosion. An investigation into the causes of failure of a guide rope is discussed in this paper. The study consists of physical examination, examination of wear and corrosion, macro- and micro-examination, examination of the breaking load and individual tensile strength measurement of the rod. The main cause of failure is found to be corrosion. Heavy abrasion and corrosion together causes a substantial reduction in diameter of more than 60%. Corrosion raises the stress level and thereby weakens the grains, which is indicated by the cracks that have developed all along the grains as revealed through micro-examination. This affects the breaking strength and reveals a 37% loss of strength, as a result of which failure occurs.
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