Marlinespike - Rope Breaking Strength

Each type of line, natural fiber, synthetic and wire rope, have different breaking strengths and safe
working loads. Natural breaking strength of manila line is the standard against which other lines are
compared. Synthetic lines have been assigned "comparison factors" against which they are
compared to manila line. The basic breaking strength factor for manila line is found by multiplying the
square of the circumference of the line by 900 lbs.
(900 lbs. X circumference2 = breaking strength)
When you purchase line you will buy it by its diameter. However, for purposes of the USCG license
exams, all lines must be measured by circumference. To convert use the following formula.
Circumference = p PI (3.14) X diameter
As an example, if you had a piece of " manila line and wanted to find the breaking strength, you
would first calculate the circumference. (.5 X 3.14 = 1.57) Then using the formula above:
1.572 X 900 = 2,218 pounds of breaking strength
To calculate the breaking strength of synthetic lines you need to add one more factor. As mentioned
above, a comparison factor has been developed to compare the breaking strength of synthetics over
manila. Since synthetics are stronger than manila an additional multiplication step is added to the
formula above.
(comparison factor X 900 lbs. X circumference 2 = breaking strength)
Following is a comparison factor chart for synthetic lines.

2.5
2.0
1.4
Using the example above, lets find the breaking strength of a piece of " nylon line. First convert the
diameter to circumference as we did above and then write the formula including the extra comparison
factor step.
2.5 X 1.572 X 900 = 5, 546 pounds of breaking strength
Knots and splices will reduce the breaking strength of a line by as much as 50 to 60 percent.
The weakest point in the line is the knot or slice. However, a splice is stronger than a knot.
Just being able to calculate breaking strength doesnt give one a safety margin. The breaking
strength formula was developed on the average breaking strength of new line under laboratory

conditions. Without straining the line until it parts, you dont know if that particular piece of line was
above average or below average. Next we will discuss safe working load.
Nylon rope is made from continuous filament polyamide - nylon 6 or nylon 6.6.

Minimum breaking strength and safe load of nylon rope are indicated below.

Rope Diameter

Minimum Breaking
Strength

Safe Load
(Safety Factor 12)

Weight

(in)

(mm)

(lbf)

(kN)

(lbf)

(kN)

(lbm/ft)

(kg/m)

3/16

880

3.91

73.3

0.326

0.009

0.013

1/4

1486

6.61

124

0.551

0.016

0.023

5/16

2295

10.2

191

0.851

0.025

0.036

3/8

10

3240

14.4

270

1.20

0.036

0.053

7/16

11

4320

19.2

360

1.60

0.048

0.071

1/2

12

5670

25.2

473

2.10

0.063

0.094

9/16

14

7200

32.0

600

2.67

0.080

0.119

5/8

16

8910

39.6

743

3.30

0.099

0.147

3/4

18

12780

56.8

1070

4.76

0.143

0.213

7/8

22

17280

76.9

1440

6.41

0.195

0.290

24

22230

98.9

1850

8.23

0.253

0.377

1 1/16

26

25200

112

2100

9.34

0.287

0.427

Rope Diameter

Minimum Breaking
Strength

Safe Load
(Safety Factor 12)

Weight

(in)

(mm)

(lbf)

(kN)

(lbf)

(kN)

(lbm/ft)

(kg/m)

1 1/8

28

28260

126

2360

10.5

0.322

0.479

1 1/4

30

34830

155

2900

12.9

0.397

0.591

1 3/8

32

38250

170

3190

14.2

0.437

0.650

1 1/2

36

48600

216

4050

18.0

0.570

0.848

1 5/8

40

57375

255

4780

21.3

0.673

1.00

1 3/4

44

66150

294

5510

24.5

0.780

1.16

48

84600

376

7050

31.4

1.00

1.49

Example - Maximum Safe Mass for a 3/8" Nylon Rope

The relationship between mass and force (weight) can be expressed as
m=F/g

(1)

where
F = force, weight (N)
m = mass (kg)
g = acceleration of gravity (9.81 m/s2)
Maximum safe mass for a 3/8" nylon rope where safe load is 1.2 kN can be calculated as
m = (1.2 103 N) / (9.81 m/s2)
= 122 kg

WIRE ROPES
. Learn about wire rope construction wire rope lays, regular lay and lang lay, wire rope lay
length, wire rope sizing grades, strand classification etc.

2. Learn about breaking strength of wire rope:

a) Diameter squared multiplied by the breaking strength of a one inch fibre or wire core rope.
i.e. D x B.S. of 1 inch wire rope.
D x 42 fibre core
D x 45 wire core.
6 x 19 x 1 inch fibre core wire rope has a breaking strength of 42 tons.
6 x 19 x 1 inch wire core wire rope has a breaking strength of 45 tons.
3. Breaking strength examples:
1. inch wire rope (fibre rope core): D x 42= Breaking strength.
x x 42 = 42/4 = 10.5 tons.
2. inch wire rope (wire rope core): D x 45= Breaking strength.
x x 45 = 42/4 = 11.25 tons.
(All breaking strength formulas are based on a diameter of one inch and in a tonnage ratio).
4. Safe Working Load: Most hoisting jobs use of a safe working load based on a 5:1 safety
factor of wire trope breaking strength. This safety factor should go high if there is possibility of
injury or death due to breakage. For example elevators are based on 20:1 safety factor.
Safe working load = breaking strength divided by safety factor.
Example: 1 inch I.W.R.C wire rope has a breaking strength of 45 Tons
S.W.L. = 45/5 = 9 Tons
5. Rule of thumb for S.W.L : D x 8 = (S.W.L) in tons.(this is based on safety factor of 5)
Example: safe working load of inch wire rope = x x 8 = 2 tons
(These formulas cannot be used in metric systems).
Mobile cranes have minimum wire rope safety factors of 2.5 to 1, 3 to 1 3.5 to 1 depending
upon location of and/or usage.
Having come so far now we have to go deeper in understanding selection criteria for a crane
hoisting rope.
1.Wire rope drums: At least three full wraps should remain on a drum in all service conditions.
Some areas the requirement may be five.
2.Wire rope blocks: These blocks are much lighter than the hook blocks. They are equipped
with cheek straps.
3.Mechanical Advantage ; The mechanical advantage of a machine is the amount by which
the machine multiplies the force applied to it in order to lift or move a load.Here the machine
is the pulley or a combination of pulleys forming a block and tackle system
4.Calculate the mechanical advantage of a block system ; Count the number of lines
supporting the load, with the exemption of the lead line when it comes down over the top
block. The lead line pulling down is not counted for mechanical advantage. If the lead line
comes up to the winch from the travelling block it will be counted as a supporting line and
included in the mechanical advantage.
5.The amount of wire rope needed for the system is determined by multiplying the number of
parts of line by travel distance of the load plus enough wire rope to go to the winch and have
at least five full wraps on the winch drum.

THE METRIC SYSTEM

CALCULATION OF APPROXIMATE BREAKING STRENGTH

AND SAFE WORKING LOAD FOR MANILA ROPE
Method of finding the Breaking Strength (B.S) is to divide the
square of the diameter of the rope in millimetres by 200.
Example of a diameter 24mm Manila Rope:
Breaking strength = diameter / 200
= 24 / 200
= 576 / 200
= 2.88 tonnes (approx. 3 tonnes)
Safe Working Load (S.W.L)
Method of finding the Safe Working Load (S.W.L) is to divide the
Breaking Strength by factor of safety.
The following factors of safety for ropes are used generally:
Lifts and hoist - 12
Running rigging and slings - 8
Other purposes - 6
Safe Working Load = Breaking Strength / Safety Factor
= 3 tonnes / 6

= 0.5 tonnes
CALCULATION OF APPROXIMATE BREAKING STRENGTH
(B.S) AND SAFE WORKING LOAD (S.W.L) FOR
POLYPROPYLENE ROPE
Method of finding the Breaking Strength (B.S) is to divide the
square of the diameter of the rope in millimetres by 77 tonnes.
Example of a diameter 24mm Polypropylene Rope:
Breaking strength = diameter / 77
= 24 / 77
= 576 / 77
= 7.48 tonnes (approx. 7 tonnes)
Method of finding the Safe Working Load (S.W.L) is to divide
the Breaking Strength by a safety factor of 6.
Safe Working Load = Breaking Strength / Safety Factor
= 7 tonnes / 6
= 1.18 tonnes( approx. 1 ton)
CALCULATION OF APPROXIMATE BREAKING STRENGTH
(B.S) AND SAFE WORKING LOAD (S.W.L) FOR
POLYETHYLENE ROPE
Method of finding the Breaking Strength (B.S) is to divide the
square of the diameter of the rope in millimetres by 106 tonnes.
Example of a diameter 24mm Polyethylene Rope:
Breaking strength = diameter / 106
= 24 / 106
= 576 / 106
= 5.43 tonnes (approx. 5 tonnes)

Method of finding the Safe Working Load (S.W.L) is to divide

the Breaking Strength by a safety factor of 6.
Safe Working Load = Breaking Strength / Safety Factor
= 5 tonnes / 6
= .83 tonnes