Pulleys, wire ropes, and cranes

[drmar]

I am trying to analyze the load needed to pull a wire rope through a multiple pulley assembly. There are a number of complicating factors (the pulleys are horizontal, not vertical, the wire rope weight cannot be neglected, there are frictional forces due to guides for the wire rope, etc.) but I am stuck just trying to determine the tension required to make the pulley start turning. I have found some references that are CLOSE to what I want, but nothing EXACTLY what I am looking for. If someone can point me in the right direction, I would be very grateful.

 

[jtcom]

Have you consulted a statics book? Therer is usally some info there.<br>
t.c.

 

[toolman]

When you say the pulleys are horizontal, I assume you mean the wire rope movement horizontal. If this is the case and all work is done horizontally, then gravity does not come into play and the wire rope weight can be neglected. Some of the frictional loses due to the rope wrapping around the pulleys and passing through the guides might need to be determined experimentally. These loses could then be factored into the statics problem.