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Leading Fibre Rope Solutions
World Record Rope Test at over 2,500 T
18 November 2011
Lankhorst Ropes Gama 98® polyester rope achieves 2,552 tonne breaking strength - world record for the strongest synthetic fibre rope.In 2002 the predecessor of Lankhorst Ropes Offshore Division (Quintas & Quintas Offshore) achieved a world record for the strongest polyester fibre rope which broke at 2,277 tonne when tested at DNV, Bergen. The Gama 98® polyester rope set the benchmark in synthetic rope strength.
In 2011 we've set a new world record for the strongest polyester fibre rope with an actual breaking strength of 2,552 tonne, as part of Lankhorst Ropes’ continuing program in product development, during testing at DNV. On this occasion the breaking strength of the Gama 98® polyester rope was in excess of the rated capacity of DNV’s test machine.
With even stronger ropes needed for deepwater mooring projects in the future, a new method of testing has been developed known as TTR (Time to Rupture).
In the case of synthetic fibre ropes, TTR is a measure of the rope's resistance to creep at uniaxial loading (at constant temperature). Using TTR, a rope is loaded to a high percentage of the predicted MBL and the time to failure recorded. The rope MBL is calculated from the load level and time to rupture. Lankhorst has tested a rope by holding it at 2,500 tonnes but, as the rope remained unbroken after several hours, was unable to obtain a TTR time and the test stopped. This rope is clearly in excess of the 2,552 tonne world record. However it is currently un-rated.
In the case of synthetic fibre ropes, TTR is a measure of the rope's resistance to creep at uniaxial loading (at constant temperature). Using TTR, a rope is loaded to a high percentage of the predicted MBL and the time to failure recorded. The rope MBL is calculated from the load level and time to rupture. Lankhorst has tested a rope by holding it at 2,500 tonnes but, as the rope remained unbroken after several hours, was unable to obtain a TTR time and the test stopped. This rope is clearly in excess of the 2,552 tonne world record. However it is currently un-rated.
Further testing is scheduled for this new rope which is designed for a MBL of 2,570 tonne.
“Our Gama 98® rope construction has consistently set the standard for high strength, deepwater mooring ropes. As the most recent test results show we are committed to developing Gama 98® to ensure it continues to meet the most demanding deepwater mooring conditions” says Chris Johnson, sales director, Lankhorst Ropes Offshore Division.
For more information on Lankhorst Ropes World Record Rope, contact Offshore Division's technical director Sergio Leite.
