Effect of Repeated Loading on Textile Rope and Webbing Characteristics in Personal Equipment Protecting Against Falls from a Height

Abstract

Central Institute for Labour Protection –National Research Institute Department of Personal Protective Equipment Wierzbowa 48, 90-133 Łodź, Poland E-mail: krbas@ciop.lodz.pl Abstract Horizontal anchor lines manufactured from fibre ropes and textile webbing are important elements of equipment protecting against falls from a height. Their mechanical properties determine the process of a fall arresting.The simultaneous use of some components of the protective equipment by more than one user is possible and desirable under specific conditions. This paper presents testing methods and a test stand for the measurement ofload-elongation characteristics under static and dynamic conditions. The testing methods simulate the functioning of the equipment during the fall of consecutive users. The results indicate significant differences between the load-elongation characteristics obtained in the first versus subsequent loading tests, as well as between characteristics obtained under static and dynamic conditions. The paper also presents how the changes in rope and webbing characteristics described affect the ability of protective equipment to absorb the kinetic energy of a person falling from a height. Data obtained in the present study are useful for the development of numerical models for horizontal anchor lines.