Abstract
Environment-dependent fatigue life of Cu-Cd alloy wires used as messenger wires was investigated. Tensile test results showed the decrease of tensile strength and elongation of messenger wires by 3.7% and 16.8%, respectively, in used specimens when compared to new ones. Messenger wires used at industrial region for 26 yeras showed 35∼50% decrease in fatigue life, which is partly due to the in stress concentrations by formation of corrosion products at the surface. Single wires showed better fatigue properties than stranded wires, especially at low cycle regions with higher stresses. Stranded wires showed shorter fatigue lives than single wires because of friction between wires by surface contact. Service life of messenger wires was dependent upon the environments which they were exposed to. SO$_2$ and humidity deteriorated the fatigue properties by environmental degradation.
