Study on Vibration Response of Elevator Ropes in Apartment during Earthquake

Abstract

Elevator ropes installed in high-rise buildings may resonate with the vibration of the building by long-period ground motions due to the natural periods of the rope and the building being close to each other. This resonance phenomenon can result in damage such as collisions or snagging of ropes on equipment in the elevator hoistway. This makes it difficult to continue using the elevator, and can also result in secondary damage such as preventing smooth evacuation and transportation of injured people during earthquakes. To reduce vibration damage caused by ropes, it is necessary to clarify the seismic response of ropes. In this study, a seismic response analysis using the finite difference method was conducted on an elevator rope installed in an apartment building. The analysis results show that higher-order vibration modes appear as the rope gets longer. This can be used to select the evacuation floor to prevent the rope from resonating.