International Journal of Mechanical Engineering and Technology (IJMET)

Volume 9, Issue 13, December 2018, pp. 203–212, Article ID: IJMET_09_13_021
Available online at http://www.iaeme.com/ijmet/issues.asp?JType=IJMET&VType=9&IType=13
ISSN Print: 0976-6340 and ISSN Online: 0976-6359

© IAEME Publication Scopus Indexed

A REFINED SLIP MODEL FOR PREDICTING

THE VARIABLE BENDING STIFFNESS IN A
SINGLE LAYERED CABLE
Shankar. G
Associate Professor, Dept of Mechanical of Engineering, MVJ College of Engg, Bangalore,
India

Dr.N. S Parthasarathy
Retired Professor, Dept of Mechanical of Engineering, MVJ College of Engg, Bangalore, India

ABSTRACT
A refined slip hypothesis that considers all the contributing factors for the strand
bending moment is proposed in the present work to predict the bending stiffness in a
pretensioned cable. The model adopts the more familiar Coulomb friction hypothesis and
Hertzian contact hypothesis to study the slip behaviour in the helically wound cable under
bending load. The bending stiffness variation is studied for an ACSR single layer Racoon
Conductor, as a function of curvature.
Keywords: Bending stiffness, Slip, Interwire friction, Cable.
Cite this Article: Shankar. G and Dr.N. S Parthasarathy, a Refined Slip Model for
Predicting the Variable Bending Stiffness in a Single Layered Cable., International Journal
of Mechanical Engineering and Technology, 9(13), 2018, pp. 203–212
http://www.iaeme.com/IJMET/issues.asp?JType=IJMET&VType=9&IType=13

1. INTRODUCTION
Helically wound cables find major application as conductors in the overhead electrical power
transmission lines. The behavior of power transmission lines during wind induced vibratory
status, impose bending loads, apart from the usual axial loads of tension and torsion, which are
used to keep them taut. Many analytical models based on the thin rod theory are available to
predict the response of cables under axial tension and torsional loads but when cables are
subjected to bending loads, the analysis becomes much more complex particularly due to the role
of friction effects between the wires. The analytical models available currently to predict the
bending response focus on the extreme conditions like no-slip where the friction is unlimited and
gross slip, where no friction exists. The analytical models which consider the complete transition
of wires in a layer of a strand from stick state to slip state under bending load are very limited.
Even the few existing bending models relate to the slippage of wires based on either Coulomb
friction stick gross slip hypothesis or Hertzian contact Coulomb friction microslip hypothesis. As
per the former hypothesis, all the wires are initially assumed to be intact and behaving in a
monolithic way with a higher bending stiffness. The Hertzian contact microslip condition

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 Shankar. G and Dr.N. S Parthasarathy

considers the complete transition of the wires in a cable from an initial full stick condition to the
final full slip condition. The gradual transition of the wires in the cable can be monitored by using
this theory. The prediction of the exact bending stiffness at every stage of slipping of wires in a
cable is very essential to know apriori the actual failure of cables in reality. McConnell and
Zemke (1980), conducted experimental tests on different conductor samples and had explained
the ranges of their stiffness values. Costello and Butson (1982) developed a cable bending model
which incorporated wire twist based on the Love’s equation (1944) of thin rod but the model
neglected the effect of friction and slipping in the wires. Considering the predominant wire axial
force, Lanteigne (1985) obtained the bending moment of the cable. A stair stepping effect was
observed during the bending stiffness prediction in the stick -slip regime. According to this study,
the slip process starts in the wires lying farthest from the neutral axis. Using the kinematic models
for the deformed and undeformed wire, Knapp (1988) proposed the bending and twisting strains,
which accounted only the extreme conditions of no slip and no friction states. Sathikh and
Parthasarathy (1988) studied the bending response of a strand under sinusoidal transverse
displacement. The model proposed accounted for the predominant axial force along with the three
wire moments in a resting lay condition. Papailiou (1995,1997) proposed a model based on thin
rod approximation, in which the individual wire behaviour under tensile and bending loads were
studied. The model considered the presence of interlayer friction and slip in the conductor during
bending. A smooth transition of the bending stiffness from stick to slip state was observed in this
work.Cardou and Jolicoeur(1997) summarised the existing cable models. The author emphasized
for the development of new cable model for predicting the local behaviour and global behaviour
of wires more efficiently, particularly under bending loads, applicable for more complex
situations like multi-layered cables etc. Sathikh (2000) proposed a preslip model for predicting
the bending response of helically wound cables under core-wire contact. The study in the preslip
stage was based on the Unlimited Coulomb friction hypothesis. The model accounted for the
major wire axial force and the moments in the wires. The model considered the effect of wire
stretch on the wire curvature and twist expressions, taking clue from Ramsey (1988). Hong et al
(2005) extended the model proposed by Papailiou for a multi-layered cable under free
bending.The slip phenomenon in the wires were studied by considering the non linear response
of the cables under frictional forces. Inagaki K et al (2007) developed a new model to evaluate
the response of cable under bending, taking frictional effects into account. Spak (2013) reviewed
the recent models available to predict the cable damping. The need for further study in the
direction of interwire friction mechanism, variable bending stiffness was emphasized by the
author. Foti (2016) predicted the mechanical behaviour of metallic strands using Euler Bernouli
beam theory. The model neglected the deformation of contact surfaces, but accounted for the
friction using Coulombs law for studying the stick slip condition. Though many models are
available to predict the bending stiffness and stick slip behaviour, a complete model considering
all the aspects together is still wanting and hence the present work attempts in predicting of the
cable bending stiffness by duly accounting the slip behaviour at each and every stages of the
bending phenomenon. A refined slip hypothesis, which combines the Coulomb friction law and
the Hertzian contact phenomenon is adopted to explain the slip at the contact interfaces. The
resulting loss of stiffness along the cable is studied as a function of axial load and the bending
curvature at any location. Inclusion of all the wire forces and wire couples with refined
expressions for the wire curvatures and twist are some of the specific features introduced in this
work, probably for the first time in bending studies.

2. REFINED SLIP HYPOTHESIS

The present work evaluates the displacement of the helical wire δ1 as per Coulombs friction stick
gross slip hypothesis and that from Hertzian contact microslip hypothesis δ2 and tries to combine

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 A Refined Slip Model for Predicting the Variable Bending Stiffness in a Single Layered Cable.

them as a two series spring assembly ,since the displacements are caused by the same wire axial
force. The total displacement in a series spring combination is the sum of the individual
displacements, it can be given as
δ = δ1 + δ2 (1)
Since the displacements that occur in bending can be related proportionally to the respective
curvatures κ1 and κ 2 ,the total curvature of the beam, when both the hypotheses are combined
can be given as κ = κ1 + κ 2 ,which can be rewritten as
 κ   δ 
κ = κ1 1 + 2  = κ1 1 + 2  (2)
 κ1   δ1 
Where κ1 is the curvature of the beam undergoing a fibre effect.

3. MATHEMATICAL RELATIONS FOR A BENT STRAND UNDER

REFINED SLIP HYPOTHESIS.
The configuration of a bent strand along with the position of the helical wires is shown in Figure
1.

Figure.1: Geometry of bent strand

From Figure 1, the strain of a helical wire, placed at a helical radius r and position angle φ
,can be obtained in the axial direction of the strand as,
ε = κ1r cos φ (3)
Where κ1 is the bending curvature.
The resulting strain in the axial direction of the wire using the lay angle of the wire β , can be
obtained as,
ξ w = κ1r cos 2 β cos φ (4)

3.1. Displacement of the helical wire as per Coulomb friction hypothesis

The displacement δ1 of the helical wire in its axial direction, can be obtained from the strain
relation as

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 Shankar. G and Dr.N. S Parthasarathy

δ1 = ∫ ξ w ds
(5)
And can be related with the equilibrium equation of the helical wire, which relates the wire
force as
T = EAξ w To get, (6)

δ1 = BZκ1 sin φ (7)

 (r / R) 2 
Where B =  2 
(8)
 Eπ sin β 
And Z = EA cos 2 β sin β (9)

3.2. Displacement of the helical wire as per Hertzian contact hypothesis

The displacement of the wire in the axial direction ( δ2 ) due to the contact of the core and the
helical wire can be obtained from the wire compliance equations in the normal direction and in
the tangential direction and the friction force arising at the contact location. Applying the contact
stress theories for the curved helical wire and its underneath core, δ2 can be obtained as

 3  µX S    Z   
2/3

 1 − 1 −  
0 22
δ2 =  
 2  1 − ν    µX 0   
(10)
Since there are m wires located at different φ values in the cross section of a strand, the
discrete slip/displacement phenomenon can be studied above for one single wire along its length
and can be averaged over a continuous range 0 ≤ π 2 ,and multiplied by the number of wires as
under.
2
δ1 =   BZκ1
π (11)
Similarly, the averaged value of δ 2 can be obtained as

 2

2
π /2
 κ
1 − 1 − 1
Z sin φ  3

δ2 = D  
π
∫   µX0 
 dφ
0
  
(12)

3.3. Evaluation of bending curvature at various slip stages

The bending curvature κ1 for a helical wire at a position angle φ is related with the fibre axial
force Z in Equation (9), which can be rearranged as
Z = Zκ1 sin φ (13)
Equating this wire axial force Z ,to the axial friction force caused by the radial clenching force
X0 ,the curvature at which the slip will be initiated at the helical wire at the outermost layer can
be given as,

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 A Refined Slip Model for Predicting the Variable Bending Stiffness in a Single Layered Cable.

µX 0
κ0 =
Z (14)
When the curvature of the bent cable exceeds that shown in Equation (14), the wire undergoes
slipping and reaches a final state of full gross slip. The helical wire begins to slip at its outer most
position φ = 900 and reaches a full slip state when φ = 00 and in any intermittent position the wire
undergoes the partial state of slip. Substituting φ = 00 when it crosses the neutral axis, the
curvature at full slip is given by
κf = ( π / 2 ) κ0
(15)
The curvature at any intermittent partial slip state can be obtained by substituting that position
angle of the wire φb = 00 to 900 in Equation (14) and obtained as

π 
 − φb 
κb = κ0  
2
cos φb (16)

4. STRAND BENDING MOMENT

The strand bending moment is obtained by considering all the three wire forces and three wire
couples in this paper. Since the shear force N lies in the same plane of bending, its effect is null.
The shear force in the binormal direction of the helical wire N' is negligibly small compared to
the wire axial force, T and the effect of N' is also neglected in the calculation of strand bending
moment. Hence the strand bending moment is evaluated by accounting the effect of the wire axial
force T and the wire moments G , G' and H ,as follows. It can be noted that, since this work
addresses the slip phenomenon along the axial direction of the wire, the different slip stages
caused by the wire axial force T is addressed, while the wire moments G , G' and H are not
affected by the slip phenomenon. The components of the wire moments G' and H along the
transverse direction of the cable are accounted for the strand bending moment.

4.1. Layer bending moment due to wire axial force

Stage 1: No slip stage: In the no slip stage, the bending curvature is less than the initial curvature
and hence, the moment in the layer due to axial force T is given by M T .
π /2
2
M T0 = m  
π
∫ Tr cos β cos φdφ
0 (17)
Stage 2: Intermittent stage/Mixed stage: In the intermittent stage, the slip happens in two
phases as partial slip and full slip. In the partial slip region, the wire axial force is given by TP
,where the value of φ ranges from 0 to φ b i.e. ( φb ≥ φ ≥ 0) . In the fully slipped region, the wire
axial force is given by Ts where the value of φ ranges from φ b to π 2 i.e. ( π 2 ≥ φ ≥ φb ) .
The wire axial force in the partially slipped region is given by

Tp = EArκ1 cos2 β cos φ

(18)

π  r
While that in the fully slipped region is given by Ts = µX 0  − φ (19)
2  sin β

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 Shankar. G and Dr.N. S Parthasarathy

Accordingly, the layer bending moment in the partial and fully slipped regions are given by
φb
2
M Tp = m   ∫ Tp r cos β cos φdφ
π 0 (20)
π2
2
MTS = m   ∫ Ts r cos β cos φdφ
 π  φb
(21)
The total bending moment in the intermittent stage is given by
M Ti = MTp + M TS
(22)
Stage 3: Fully slipped stage: In the fully slipped state, the boundary φb = 0 and hence the
final curvature is given by κ1 = κf = ( π 2) κ0 and the layer bending moment in the fully slipped
stage is given by
2
 2  µX 0 r cos β
M Tf = m  
π sin β (23)
The layer bending moment M T due to wire axial force T is given by the M T0 or M Ti or M Tf as
per the existing slip status of the helical wire, in that position angle.

4.2. Layer bending moment due to the rotation of the wires

The layer bending moment due to the contribution of the wire couples G , G ' and H are given
respectively as
π/ 2
2
MG = m  
π
∫ EI∆κ sin φdφ
0 (24)
π/ 2
2
∫ EI∆κ cos β cos φdφ
'
M G' = m  
π 0 (25)
π/ 2
2
M H = −m  
π
∫ GJ∆τ sin β cos φdφ
0 (26)
'
Where ∆κ, ∆κ are the curvatures of the helical wire along normal, binormal direction and ∆τ
is the twist of the wire and are given by,
cos β(1 + sin 2 β) sin φ cos 4 β cos φ − sin β cos 3 β cos φ
∆κ = ∆κ' = ∆τ =
ρ , ρ and ρ (27)

4.2. Strand bending moment

The strand bending moment M B can be obtained by adding the bending moment arising from
the layer of helical wires and that of the central core.
The bending moment from the layer is the sum of the moments caused by wire axial tension and
wire couples and is given as
M L = M T + M G + M G' + M H
( 28)

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 A Refined Slip Model for Predicting the Variable Bending Stiffness in a Single Layered Cable.

The bending moment from the core is given by

M C = E C IC κ
(29)
Where E C & IC are the Young’s modulus and moment of inertia of the core.
Therefore, cable or strand bending moment is given by
MS = M L + M C
(30)

4.3. Strand bending stiffness

The cable or strand stiffness can be evaluated from the bending moment ( MS ) and bending
curvature ( κ ) relations discussed in the previous sections, by plotting a graph and evaluating its
slope at each curvature.
The effective stiffness of the cable is given by
(EI)eff = M S κ
(31)

5. NUMERICAL RESULTS
The revised slip hypothesis discussed in the earlier section gives a scheme for the prediction of
helical wire displacements based on the Coulomb friction and the Hertzian contact theories. The
resulting stiffness of the cable/strand is obtained as a function of strand bending curvature ( κ ).
The above theoretical formulations have been worked out numerically, for a single layer
composite ACSR Racoon conductor, the specifications are shown below in Table 1.
Table 1: Geometric and material properties of Racoon
conductor
Parameter Value
Core diameter, Dc , mm 4.09
Wire diameter, D w , mm 4.09
Helix angle of the wire, α , Degree 75.604
Elasticity modulus of the core, E c , GPa 207
Elasticity modulus of the helical wire, E w , GPa 79
Poisson’s ratio of the core, γ c 0.3
Poisson’s ratio of the helical wire, γ w 0.33
Number of wires, m 6
Coefficient of friction, µ 0.3
Cable length, L ,mm 3000
For an applied axial load ( P ) on a straight conductor strand, the cable axial strain ( ε ) is
calculated from the axial stiffness of the strand assembly, reported in the literature. The wire axial
strain ξ w and the wire axial force T ,binormal force N' and the radial clenching force X0 are
evaluated as cited in the equilibrium equations of Love’s (1944).
The friction force caused by this radial clenching force X0 is evaluated and the fibre axial
force Z present in a helical wire at the core-wire interface is evaluated as per its position angle φ
and compared with the friction force for different bending curvatures. It was observed that up to
a bending curvature κ = 2.54E −5 ,the frictional force was greater than fibre axial force and hence
the cable exhibited no slip status. The bending moment due to fibre effect MT0 from Equation
(17) and the layer bending moment of the strand is evaluated from Equation (28) after accounting

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 Shankar. G and Dr.N. S Parthasarathy

the moments from the three wire moments. Considering the effects of the central core wire, the
total bending moment of the strand is evaluated from Equation (30) and the stiffness of the strand
in no slip stage is evaluated from Equation (31), for different curvatures. When the curvatures are
further increased, slip starts at different locations in a cross section, as per the position angle of
the wires and progresses. At this stage, some wires undergo partial slip, while some other tend to
attain full slip. These are identified wire by wire with respect to their position angles and the
respective curvatures are identified as per the two slip hypotheses. The resulting bending
moments in partial slip and full slip stages of the wires are evaluated as in Equations (18) and
(19) .The fully slipped state of all the wires, in the cable, can be obtained as per the curvature
relations outlined in Equations(21) and the corresponding moment relations in Equation
(20),along with the layer ,core and strand bending moment equation in (28),(29)and(30).The
strand bending stiffness at this stage is evaluated from Equation(31),as in other cases. In the fully
slipped stage, neither the fibre effect nor the contact theory holds good and the bending moment
that a helical wire can sustain is purely from its wire axil force T as in Equation (23).The moments
due to three wire couples G, G ' and H will also prevail on each wire as in Equations (24) to (26),
apart from that contributed by the core as in Equation (29). The plot in Figure 2 indicates the
reduction of strand stiffness due to the various slip stages that occur as the curvatures are
increased, for conductor axial loads of 300,400,600 and 700kg.The limiting values of cable
bending stiffness in the monolithic and loose wire assembly are evaluated for the ACSR Racoon
conductor using Mc Connell (1980) approach and are plotted in Figure 2, as two straight lines.
From the Figure 2, it can be observed that the cable maintains monolithic behaviour up to certain
curvature loads, then turns to slip states as explained in the revised slip theory presented in the
paper and then attains the loose wire behaviour and reaches the lower limit of stiffness.

Figure 2 Bending Stiffness-Curvature plot

The bending moment and curvature values obtained as per the revised slip model are also
plotted in Figure 3, for the four axial loads adopted in the numerical computations.

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 A Refined Slip Model for Predicting the Variable Bending Stiffness in a Single Layered Cable.

Figure 3: Bending Moment-Curvature plot

6. CONCLUSIONS
The refined slip hypothesis, which includes all the factors contributing for the strand bending
moment is studied in the present work for predicting the bending stiffness variation as a function
of strand curvature. The variation of the bending stiffness as a function of strand curvature
confirmed the complete transition of the cable from a monolithic stick state to a loose wire gross
slip state explaining the slip hypothesis adopted in this paper. It is hoped that the slip hypothesis
suggested in this work, will enable prediction of realistic cable stiffness at various bending
curvatures.

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