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Abstract
In this paper, we present new methodology based on a simple, non‐standard falling‐weight experiment, which allows for the examination of the functionality and durability of ropes beyond the findings from Union Internationale des Associations d'Alpinisme experiments. The experimental‐analytical‐numerical treatment allows for the examination of the time‐dependent viscoelasto‐plastic behavior of ropes exposed to arbitrary falling‐weight loading conditions. Developed methodology allows for the prediction of the impact force and the jolt (the derivative of the acceleration/ deacceleration acting on the climber); the viscoelasto‐plastic deformation of the rope; stored, retrieved, and dissipated energy during the loading and unloading of the rope; and the modification of the stiffness of the rope within each loading cycle. By means of parametric error analysis, we showed that the relation between the error of calculated data and the error of input data is extremely non‐linear. This demands careful and precise experiments. It was shown that the accuracy of prediction of all sought‐after physical quantities could be obtained within the acceptable limits, which confirms that the proposed experimental‐analytical methodology may be used for analyses of the functionality and durability of ropes and the safety of climbers.
Notes
Center for Experimental Mechanics, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, University of Ljubljana, Pot za Brdom 104, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia E‐mail: [email protected]‐lj.si