To accurately describe mechanical properties of a complex wire rope, a double-helix wire rope is used as an example in this study. According to the spatial structure characteristics of the central helical line of each wire rope, the spatial configuration curve for the double- -helix wire rope is obtained by using differential geometry theory. On the basis of this curve, the mathematical model of the equivalent elastic modulus of the wire rope is developed, and the elastic modulus of a 6×7+IWS wire rope is measured using a universal tensile testing machine. The experimental results are compared with the predicted results to verify correctness of the elastic modulus prediction of the double-helix wire rope.