Neutron Diffraction Measurement of Stress Redistribution in Parallel Seven-Wire Strands after Local Fracture

We report results from neutron diffraction experiments where partitioning of applied tensile load between the inner and outer wires of seven-wire parallel and quasi-parallel wire strands were measured while 1-all wires were undergoing elastic deformation, 2-where one wire within the bundle was undergoing plastic flow and, 3-when one or more wires fractured under load. The results indicate that mechanical interference and friction mechanisms have similar contributions to the load transferred to fractured wires, and both mechanisms should be included in analytical or numerical formulations of strain partitioning in quasi-parallel wire cables.