Over 50 years ago, OIPEEC was founded to make rope testing and investigations comparable. Today, numerous machines exist to assess the fatigue life of running ropes in CBOS-tests. Up today it remains unclear whether different machine designs themselves influence fatigue behaviour and service life and to which extend. Additionally, no standardized method currently addresses this issue beside the OIPEEC-Recommendations from 1988.
This study compares various bending fatigue testing machines with regard to their impact on wire rope performance. Differences in design, loading principles, and operation are analysed to determine how machine characteristics affect test outcomes. The goal is to provide practical guidance for selecting suitable equipment based on specific testing needs. The study includes 3 different test principles shown in the figure below: a) commonly used with one test sheave; b) with multiple reeving (Verreet/Teissier); c) with long test rope and 3 independent bending zones (TU Dresden).
The results aim to support researchers, engineers, and quality assurance professionals in making informed decisions when choosing testing systems – ensuring reliable, reproducible results while improving testing efficiency and cost-effectiveness.