Cable & Wire Rope Stretch

Technical Information Standard Length Tolerances Pulley Diameter Wire Rope Stretch Standard Points of Measure MIL-83420 Reference Medical Applications Medical Technical Info Medical Product Packaging Medical Wire & Cable Materials Jacket Tolerances

Wire Rope Stretch

In any cable or wire rope application, stretch may be a concern. There are two forms of stretch in cable and wire rope: Structural Stretch and Elastic Stretch.

Structural Stretch

This is the lengthening of the lay in the construction of cable and wire rope as the individual wires adjust under load. Structural stretch in Loos and Company products is less than 1% of the total cable length. This form of stretch can be completely removed by applying a cable or wire rope prestretching operation prior to shipment.

Elastic Stretch

This is the actual physical elongation of the individual wires under load. The elastic stretch can be calculated by using the following formula*:

Cable Stretch Calculator (E = (W x G) / D²)

Weight or Load:

Diameter of cable in inches:

Cable/Wire Rope Construction:

Material:

Elastic stretch, as a % of length:*

*Values derived from this calculator are an approximation.
**Remember to keep your units of measure constant. The length of your cable must be calculated in inches to correspond with the diameter measurement, also in inches.