High Strength Synthetic Fiber Ropes
1.0 INTRODUCTION
Chapter 3 describes ropes made from high strength synthetic materials for oceanographic towing, mooring and lifting. The chapter is broken in four main sections.
High strength synthetic rope compared to wire
Materials available for rope construction
Constructional changes that alter rope performance
Summary and Reference Material
2.0 HIGH STRENGTH SYNTHETIC FIBER ROPES VS STEEL
A primary advantage of Synthetic Fiber Rope is their lightweight. Lightweight lines are easier to handle and reduce topside weight. High Strength Synthetic Fiber Rope also can be used in greater depths than wire.
2.A Weight Comparison
Kevlar density is less than 1/5 that of steel and Spectra's density is less than 1/8 that of steel. A 1" Kevlar, Spectra, and wire each have approximately 125,000 pound break strength. However, the weight per 100/ft is very different:...
2.B Payload Comparison in Water
There are significant weight savings when synthetic rope is used in water. As stated above, Kevlar rope is u