The varied merits, potential and viability of the A-U technique over other EM and AE techniques in assessing the structural degradation of steel wire rope, by correlating the sophisticated SWF with the degraded material properties, provide comprehensive scope for R D to be undertaken in the areas suggested in this paper. The selection of the appropriate frequency for sensor probe fixture after optimisation plays a crucial role both in the zero offset transmission and the same-side modes of the A-U technique. Until now, the latter mode was adopted for small diameter wire rope, but with less sophisticated ringdown SWF analysis to demonstrate, initially, the feasibility of quantifying the fatigue damage or compliance of steel wire rope. Although the author advocates the use of the through-transmission technique, due to 100 percent volume scanning of the rope in preference to the conventional same-side mode of scanning with the probe configuration of pulsing and sensing sensors along the direction of the main load axis, the technique has to be optimized experimentally by doing extensive RD into the areas high-lighted herein. It is appropriate to mention that the A-U technique was developed to an advanced stage for measuring the variations of material properties for fibre-reinforced plastic composites and other composites, for both quality assurance and service degradation evaluations. Hence, taking into account the tremendous potential of the technique, more emphasis should be given to develop sensor technology and sophisticated SWF experimental models with variations of wire rope properties. After doing extensive RD, it should be possible to design develop and fabricate compact, portable A-U equipment for monitoring the wire rope conditions in the mining industries, or elsewhere, in situ. In the near future it may emerge as an effective, quantitative NDE tool for mapping the variations of mechanical properties along the length of the working wire rope and thereby to identify and record its weak regions.
展开▼
