Abstract This study investigates the macroscopic mechanical behavior of steel wire ropes under corrosive conditions, specifically focusing on the effects of sulfuric acid exposure. The goal is to simulate and analyze the degradation process in service by conducting monotonic tensile tests on both undamaged and artificially pre-damaged 19 × 7 circular strand steel wire ropes. These ropes were subjected to varying levels of corrosion in order to evaluate their mechanical properties. To systematically explore the influence of multiple factors on the degradation process, the Taguchi method was applied, utilizing an L9 orthogonal array with three experimental factors: sulfuric acid concentration, immersion time, and the number of strands removed from the wire rope. Each factor was tested at three levels to determine its impact on corrosion resistance. Steel wire ropes were exposed to sulfuric acid concentrations of 20 %, 30 %, and 40 % for immersion times of 1–3 h, with 0, 2, and 4 strands removed. The maximum tensile strength decreased from 516.415 N in the reference sample to between 482.83 N and 35.63 N after corrosion, corresponding to a 6.5–93.1 % reduction. Statistical analyses, including the signal-to-noise ( S / N ) ratio and analysis of variance (ANOVA), were used to identify the optimal parameter settings for maximizing mechanical performance. The results indicate that the number of strands removed has the most significant influence on the rope’s mechanical properties, followed by the concentration of sulfuric acid and the immersion time. A confirmation test was performed to verify the accuracy and consistency of the optimal parameter configuration, ensuring the reliability of the findings. This study highlights the importance of optimizing key parameters to enhance the corrosion resistance of steel wire ropes, thus extending their service life in corrosive environments. The use of the Taguchi method in this context demonstrates its effectiveness in optimizing mechanical properties and provides valuable insights for improving the durability of wire ropes in industrial applications.
Gouya et al. (Thu,) studied this question.