The fatigue of structural wire strands

This paper presents the results of a limited series of large scale in-line and bending fatigue tests on socketed structural strands typical of those used as stays for guyed masts and for suspension bridge hangers. The strand, consisting of a group of hard drawn galvanized steel wires laid up helically about a common axis, is terminated by zinc filled conical sockets. The various failure mechanisms, concentrated on the wires close to the socket, are described and discussed. It is concluded that conservative predictions of the in-line fatigue lives of real strands should be possible although further work is needed on bending fatigue.