Temperature Measurements as a Method for Monitoring Ropes

Due to an increasing demand for operation at sea depths as low as 3000 m and under, the use of fibre ropes for offshore application in deep sea lifting and mooring is increasing. Consequently, improved knowledge is required regarding these ropes’ thermo-mechanical properties and how these properties change as the rope is being used. This paper presents a 2D model of heat transport in the axial and radial directions along a 28 mm diameter fibre rope typically used for offshore applications. The model is combined with temperature measurements during heating and cooling of the rope, using both thermocouples and a thermal camera. Measurements are performed both on a new rope and on a used that has been through a high number of bending cycles. This allows for determining how the rope’s thermal conductivity changes with use, which is a requirement for the use of temperature measurements as method for monitoring the rope’s health.