International Electrotechnical Commission

Guidance on techniques for the measurement of the coefficient of friction (COF) between cables and ducts - Edition 1.0
 N TR 62470

Annotation

Scope and object

This technical report describes three techniques to measure the coefficient of friction (COF) between cables and ducts. For a given technique, cable construction, installation method (pulling, pushing, or blowing), and duct size, the relative values of the COF can give some indication as to the relative ease of installation. The techniques can be used for traditional cables and ducts (see IEC 60794-3-10) as well as for microduct cables and microducts (see IEC 60794-5). A fibre or fibre unit may be evaluated in place of a cable in all techniques.

Methods A, B, and C are distinguished by the equipment used for measurements:

• method A – using a wheel around which the duct is wound, a cable with attached weight being pulled through the latter, while measuring the force needed for this;

• method B – using a device to clamp a duct specimen, a cable specimen placed inside, tilting both while measuring the angle at which the cable specimen starts to slide, or the angle which sustains sliding; and

• method C – using a device to clamp and straighten a cable specimen, a duct specimen placed around it, tilting both while measuring the angle at which the duct specimen starts to slide, or the angle which sustains sliding.

The COF when the cable is not moving with respect to the duct is the static COF, and will increase until sliding suddenly starts. The COF while the cable is sliding within the duct is the kinetic or dynamic COF. It should be noted that the static COF will generally be a higher value than the kinetic COF.