Rope making terms can be confusing and often obscure, so here is a glossary of some of the more frequently used words and phrases used in this website or other Marlow or rope-making literature.
Average Break Load: (ABL) The average load at which a rope will break
Bedding in: Permanent elongation that occurs when a rope is first used. Caused by the fibers settling into the most efficient load path.
Braid: Rope construction formed from interlaced fibers spiralling on opposite directions.
Break load: the force at which the rope will break, see Average Break Load, Minimum Break Load, spliced break load.
Coefficient of Utilisation: the coefficient by which a rope or system is de-rated to obtain the WLL. Sometimes referred to as a ‘safety factor’ or ‘design factor’.
Continuous Filament: Synthetic fibers that are extruded and supplied as a continuous unbroken filament.
Creep: Permeant elongation that occurs over extended time, normally associated with HMPE fibers. D:d Ratio – ratio of the sheave diameter (D) and the rope diameter (d)
Design Factor: See ‘coefficient of utilisation’.
Doublebraid: Rope construction consisting of 2 braids one on top of the other.
Elastic elongation: elongation that occurs immediately when a load is applied and recovers as soon as the load is removed.
Elongation: The amount by which a rope stretches (strain). Normally quoted as a % length change at a given condition such as ‘elongation at break’.
Fatigue: Any process that reduces the strength of a rope over the time it is in service.
Grommet: Loop of rope made by splicing the ends together. Often used as a lifting sling.
Heat Set: A stress relaxation process that involves heating a rope after braiding or twisting.
Kernmantle: Rope construction consisting of a core (Kern) and a cover (Mantle). Normally used in reference to climbing and static ropes.
Minimum Break Load: (MBL) a statistically derived figure that represents a minimum strength that the rope should exceed. Normally either 2 or 3 standard deviations below the ABL. Modulus – See stiffness.
Pre stretched: A stretching and heating process that relaxes residual stress and improves performance.
Safe Working Load: (SWL) maximum load that can be applied to a system in a given configuration. May never be more than the WLL but could be less if weaker components or configuration are used. Safety Factor – See coefficient of utilisation.
Seize: Similar to whipping, often used to bind 2 ropes together with smaller cordage, or to form an eye. Splice – a method of terminating a rope.
Spliced Break Load: The break load (either minimum or average) including a spliced termination. Typically Dyneema and other high strength ropes will be testing in this way.
Staple Fiber: sometimes called ‘spun staple’ short length fibers that are spun (twisted) together to create a longer yarn. Can be either synthetic or natural.
Stiffness: measure of the elongation as a function of load. Strand – twisted construction where the fibers are spiral in the same direction.
Stretch: See Elongation.
Viscoelastic elongation: a time dependent and recoverable elongation. Normally associated with HMPE fibers.
Whip: Binding around a rope made with smaller cordage. Used to tidy a rope end and prevent fraying or to secure a splice.
Woking Load Limit: (WLL) Maximum load that can be applied to a rope in a given application, for lifting in the EU this is typically 1/7th of the terminated MBL.
