The role of rope research in a safe process operation of cableways

The article presents the problems connected with the dynamic development of the cableways in Poland in recent years. The authors characterize ropeways which most often are run in Poland. Authors focus on the role of obligatory testing in the operation of ropeways. They pay most attention to steel wire ropes and some elements cooperating with them. The article discusses the main causes of wear of ropes and mechanisms of damage such as fatigue, wear and different corrosion patterns. The examples of such damage and the place in which they can occur are presented. Main attention was placed on visual assessment of damage caused by corrosive wear.