Lay Effect of Wire Rope

A theory has been developed to predict the static response of wire rope consisting of strands in which the wires in the strand are wound in different directions. In the right lay-regular lay rope under tension, a tightening up of the wires in the strand is produced. This results in a stiffer rope when compared with the right lay-lang lay rope. Numerical results are presented for two cases of practical interest, i.e.: (1) Ropes with zero end-moment; and (2) ropes restrained against rotation. The rope has six strands with 12 wires in each strand. The results show that a lang lay rope under tension with no end restraint against rotation has practically no stiffness and the lay will just run out.