This paper deals with the area of structural damage monitoring of steel strands wire ropes embedded into various equipment and mechanical systems. Of the currently available techniques and methods for wire ropes health monitoring, the authors focused on the group of techniques based on operational dynamics investigation of such systems. Beyond the capability and efficiency of both occasionally and continuously monitoring application, the dynamics-based methods are able to provide additional information regarding the structural integrity and functional operability of the entire ensemble embedding the wire ropes. This paper presents the results gained by the authors using a laboratory setup that can simulate the operational condition usually used for regular applications of wire ropes. The investigations were conducted on three directions of acquired signals post-processing. Firstly, the classical fast Fourier transform was used to evaluate the potential changes within the spectral distribution of transitory response. The other two directions involved high-order spectral analyses in terms of bi-spectrum and Wigner–Ville distribution and multi-scale analysis based methods such as complex wavelet cross-correlation and complex wavelet coherency. The results indicate that each direction of analysis can provide suitable information regarding potential wire rope damage, but the ensemble of post-processing methods offers supplementary precision.

The existing literature provides various computational models related to the dynamic behavior of strand wire ropes. It starts from the simple longitudinally oscillating beam, to the complex nonlinear multi-body configuration based on helical structural symmetry. The challenge is the prior availability of characteristic parameters for material behavior, structural configuration, and functional capability. Experimental investigation is the main source for evaluation of these characteristics. However, tests have specifically been performed according to each case, minimizing the generalization aspect. This is the main frame of this study. Hereby, the authors propose an ensemble of spectral investigations, applied to a reduced set of experimental tests regarding wire rope dynamics. The research goal consists of wire rope characterization in terms of the flexible and adaptive groups of parameters, related to the conservative and dissipative behaviors. An experimental setup is considered here according to the rope exploitation conditions in order to enable an extension of the method application from the experimental mode to the operational mode. Experiments are conducted based on classical vibration measurement procedures. The analysis is performed using a spectral method ensemble, including discrete Fourier transform, time-frequency joint analysis, and the Prony method. The result show that the proposed assessments can provide suitable information related to a large group of wire rope models.

In this paper, we realized digging process simulation for a narrow trench using special equipment located at a mini excavator. These types of machines digging perform the longitudinal direction to the direction of travel, making trenches with widths of 0.4 m and depths of 3.5 -7.0 m. These are necessary for the location of underground cables or draining water in agriculture. For Parametric modelling of parts included in ensemble has used software from Siemens NX 7.5, we produce sketches of each piece, using following commands: Sketch, Profile (Line), Arc, Circle, Quick Trim Quick Extend, Constraints. Depending on the layout of each piece can also use other commands such as: Chamfer, Rotate, Mirror Curve, Offset Curve, etc. After completion of sketch and dimensioning commands was: Extrude, Revolve, and at this stage the play may various modifications such as drilling, removal of certain volumes of piece showing various forms or change the appearance of surfaces (thread cutting, bevelling). This paper was realized with this parametric modelling software because presents major advantages including: control over the design, making design speed and increasing productivity; increasing product quality, reducing design risk recovery and time work, less human effort and reduced financial resources throughout the process.