Response of mine hoisting cables to longitudinal shock loads

Experimental results are presented on the longitudinal attenuation of a kinetic shock wave travelling along a typical mine hoisting cable. Mathematical curve-itting of the results established these losses to be exponential and tension-dependent. The reflection and power-transmission coefficients of a typical winding drum were also investigated. The degree of penetration of an incident stress wave onto the coil of cable wrapped round the drum is shown to be governed by a second-degree relationship, and is solely dependent on the acceleration of the cable at the cable-drum interface. Although the investigation is limited to the testing of a single hoisting cable, certain qualitative trends that were identified can be generalized and applied to other types of hoisting cable with different geometries, elastic properties, and installations.