Frequency analysis of the signals generated by the failure of constituent wires of wire rope

Frequency analysis has been applied to the acoustic emission signals resulting from the failure of steel wire ropes and individual wires taken from the ropes. These preliminary tests were performed on notched and unnotched specimens under rising and cyclic loads; the signals were digitized and analysed using a fast Fourier transform program. Failure of the wires generated signals with frequencies between 0 and 100 kHz; the average peak to peak amplitude values of the signals from individual wires were greater than those from the failure of notched wires within the rope. The signal duration also increased in the rope specimens.