Impact of Strain Aging Kinetics on the Failure of Thin Steel Wire Ropes

Under quasi-static loading an irregular failure mode of high-strength thin-carbon steel cords were observed after low temperature thermal aging. Character and kinetics of damage in such wire ropes highly depend on the plastic elongation of the steel wires, which is significantly modified by the strain aging effect. In this paper, the static strain aging effect on heavily drawn high-carbon steel wires and their cords is experimentally studied in the 100–200 °C temperature range. Quantitative analysis of the affected strength and strain parameters is given. Kinetics of the aging process is discussed, and based on this, the macroscopic failure mechanism is fundamentally explained.