Research transfer of a monolithic rope termination of a high modulus fibre rope

• Applicant: Professor Dr.-Ing. Robert Schulz, since 7/2019
• Subject Area: Engineering Design, Machine Elements, Product Development
• Term: from 2017 to 2021
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 372504989

The aim of the planned project is to transfer the research results of the monolithic rope termination invention for high modulus fiber ropes to the industry. Based on the research results, the company Geo Gleistein & Sohn GmbH from Bremen has expressed great interest in the long-term conversion and commercialization of these basic research results into industrial products. Since the research is not completed by the product and the share of the manual work steps has an important influence on the quality and operational reliability of the final connection, Gleistein has decided together with the IFT to pursue a joint transfer project in order to determine the research to future innovative applications. Due to worldwide lightweight construction developments, the company Gleistein would like to use this end connection in crane ropes, roof bracing and in the offshore sector. Gleistein is a German manufacturer of high-quality technical fiber ropes. The medium-sized company has a staff of 110 and a market share of 35% based in Bremen.The results will form the basis for providing safe systems for the final industrial applications. As a result, high modular fiber ropes can become established as an innovative suspension system in the future. The advantages are not only the weight savings compared to steel ropes, only 1/7 of the weight of steel ropes, but also the possibility to implement sensors as well as intrinsic abilities. The industrialization follows the project by the company Gleistein.The following work is planned:For the applications of the standing ropes and running ropes, mainly Geo Gleistein, with the participation of the IFT, designs two different cable construction variants and rope diameters both under requirements from the later application as well as under requirements from the end termination and finally produced.Subsequently, IFT is will calculate, design an end connection and transfer the know-how to the company Gleistein. Thus, high-modular rope end terminations can be produced jointly at the Gleistein plant, which are also tested by means of sensor technology for the possibility of preventive maintenance during the serviceability tests described in AP 1.4. Tensile stress tests and bending tests are systematically carried out according to the intended application.The application limits of such cable systems are examined and limits of safe application are defined. Based on the results, the final goal is to systematically develop a theoretical time-stable model for the applications.The overall objective of this project is to strengthen Germany as a business location.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants (Transfer Project)
• Application Partner: Geo. Gleistein & Sohn GmbH
• Ehemaliger Antragsteller: Professor Dr.-Ing. Karl-Heinz Wehking, until 7/2019