Axial Stresses in Armor Wires of Bent Submarine Cables

Abstract

The axial stresses induced in the helically wound armor wires of a submarine cable bent over a drum are described by a simple mathematical model. The model, which represents the wire-core interaction, yields a simple description of the stress concentration at a rigid inclusion such as a clamp or apparatus housing. The “free field” expression for stresses away from an inclusion is also obtained and shows the effects of the entire range of interaction stiffness from frictionless slip to infinite interaction shear stiffness. At the latter limit beamlike outer fiber stresses are produced. Beamlike stresses are also produced in the limiting cases of infinitesimally thin wires and infinitely long lay-length where wires run parallel to the cable axis.