Gear component load limits on rigs

[masterrig 1]

Thank you, for the response. I recall having the opportunity to 'visit' with John Sherman, at one of the Symposiums and recall his mentioning that, about Type 13 webbing. I wanted to ask you the question to make sure I had it correct.

Chuck

[masterrig 1]

Thank you, for the response! I was going from memory and at my age, I should know better!


Chuck

[riggermick 7]

Quote

I agree, we have hardware and webbing that can hold more than that. Even though It might not take that kind of a load during a normal skydive, If I made a rig I would plan for anything skydivers would try. Unless like posters stated above that it is designed to be weaker for safety ie risers, but I am can't figure out a situation where you would want a chest strap to fail.

Harness design is somewhat of a trade off. Strength and joint effeciancy are always paramount, but style , comfort, application and asthetics must also be considered. Your basic harness hasn't changed that much over the years even with new comfort and flexability innovatons incorporated in to most if not all current designs. That being said let's look at the physics relating to your average sport harness.

The load during opening shock (weather it is the main or reserve) is transmitted down the main lift web (this is known as a single point load path), when it reaches the legstrap junction it splits pretty much evenly in both directions (this is known as a dual point load path)diminshing the load by about half. A persons leg acts very much like the large diameter device used to reverse a rope that you mentioned in a previous post.

On a normal deployment and opening the load transmitted to the harness is distributed evenly between both lift webs, 1/2 each. When the two halves of the load reach their respective leg strap junctions they 1/2 again, effectivly leaving 1/4 of the load for each leg strap. One must also factor webbing elasticity in to the equation which further attenuates the load.

If a chest strap is pulled tighter than just enough to keep the main lift webs in place, it will assume some of the vertical loads being transmitted down them. How much load will be distributed across it will be dependent on how tight the chest strap is fastened and consequently how much distortion from the vertical the lift webs are displaced.

Under extreme chest strap overtightning situations the webbing can be severed by the chest strap adapter or the sliding bar can be forced out resulting in the user faling forward and out of the harness. Don't over tighten your chest strap.

As far as strength considerations go your harness is way over built, you will fail long before your webbing, hardware or joints will.

Different types of webbing, hardware and thier various configurations are purley a matter of style, construction trade offs, comfort and intended application of the finished article.

Mick.

[cvfd1399 0]

Much love thanks for the info.