Aramid Fiber for Use as Oceanographic Strength Members.

Abstract : This report is a summary of information presently available for use in selecting and specifying Kevlar aramid ropes for ocean engineering and construction applications. The publication includes data obtained from private industry, Government facilities, and studies initiated by the authors. It is based on available technical data which are representative of state-of-the-art knowledge of the material, rope design, manufacturing processes, test procedures, and application engineering. The first portion covers the positive and negative features of the aramid fiber. Then the various aramid fiber rope constructions available are compared with similar constructions of other materials, including wire rope, and comments are made on the relative merits of each for different ocean engineering applications. In addition, this report provides information on splices and terminations for aramid rope so that the engineer will understand joint efficiencies, reliability factors, and load constraints involved in selecting and specifying splices and terminations. It discusses service considerations such as sheave sizing, abrasion, fake-down requirements, fishbite protection, environmental exposure, and related application information which is needed to specify handling and protective requirements.