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Last updated 07/09/2008

Tubular Kevlar sewn to flat nylon strap with Kevlar Thread
Test Series # Before Test Description Peak Load (lbs) After Test
1 Front DeH8 Loop Method 388.508 Pic 1
2 Back DeH8 Loop Method 358.865 Pic 2
3   DeH8 Loop Method 472.967 Pic 3
This was Pratt Hobbies' TKM tubular kevlar hand sewn to a 1" flat nylon strap. The thread use was the Kevlar that I tested below.


Braided fiberglass
Test Series # Type Source  Description Peak Load (lbs) Other Picture
1 Braided Mil Surplus DeH8 Loop Method 540.189 Pic 1
2 Braided Mil Surplus DeH8 Loop Method 703.591 Pic 2
3 Braided Mil Surplus DeH8 Loop Method 739.787 Pic 3
These were shroud lines taken from a 60" Mil surplus chute. Pic 1 shows the longest cord, and how I had to extend the upper test fixture into the ceiling. The amount of cord threaded into itself was about a foot. I did this because the glass was "slippery". I did test it using the overhand knot method but the results were much lower.


Small "Twisted Strands" Kevlar
Test Series # Type Source  Description Peak Load (lbs) Other Picture
Knotted 1 1/16" Giant Leap Twisted Strands 107.552 In Fixture
Knotted 2 1/16" Giant Leap Twisted Strands 104.794 During Test
Knotted 3 1/16" Giant Leap Twisted Strands 102.380 After Test


Small Braided Tubular Kevlar
Test Series # Type Source  Description Peak Load (lbs) Other Picture
Knotted 1 TKM Pratt Hobbies Overhand knots on each end 261.473  
Knotted 2 TKM Pratt Hobbies Overhand knots on each end 180.290  
Knotted 3 TKM Pratt Hobbies Overhand knots on each end 271.299  
Knotted 4 TKM Pratt Hobbies Overhand knots on each end 228.208  
RDeH8 Method TKM Pratt Hobbies 2" / 3" inserted 517.782 After Test
In addition to showing the strength of this cord, this test shows the the RDeH8 method of securing Kevlar works well and shows that tying a knot to secure shock cords is a bad idea. (More RDeH8 coming)


11mm Flat Kevlar Ribbon

These samples were very tough to test. The coating made them slip in the fixtures. Samples #11 and #12 were the only two samples to actually break. Since there was not at least 3 samples with acceptable testing criteria, I have to consider this an invalid test. It does show what the material may be capable of.

Test Series # Type Average Thickness (in.) Average Width (in.) Average Area in^2 Stress At Offset Yield (psi) Peak Stress (psi) Peak Load (lbs)
1 FKR 0.03250 0.39800 0.01293 18716.922 33606.45965 434.70093
2 FKR 0.03250 0.39800 0.01293 36609.538 48645.62115 629.23309
3 FKR 0.03250 0.39800 0.01293 18799.587 29373.85481 379.95201
4 FKR 0.03250 0.39800 0.01293 **** 15117.91351 195.55083
5 FKR 0.03250 0.39800 0.01293 14370.764 26457.28646 342.22608
6 FKR 0.03250 0.39800 0.01293 8375.233 24664.76714 319.03977
7 FKR 0.03250 0.39800 0.01293 14505.408 16331.65382 126.89735
8 FKR 0.03250 0.39800 0.01293 18395.941 35626.52237 276.81895
9 FKR 0.03250 0.39800 0.01293 27828.334 35489.96321 275.75788
10 FKR 0.03250 0.39800 0.01293 36189.031 54966.06103 427.08764
11 FKR 0.03250 0.39800 0.01293 80961.471 97586.86933 758.25236
12 FKR 0.03250 0.39800 0.01293 105355.067 112086.27996 870.91314
This test is of the 11mm Flat Kevlar Ribbon from John Cox at rinconrocketry.com. Also available on the Rocketry Planet Auctions. Samples provided by Jim Urrata.


Kevlar and Nomex Thread
Test Series # Type Source  Description Peak Load (lbs) Other Picture
Kevlar Thread 1 #69 Synthetic " Natural BTS Bonded" 10.339  
Kevlar Thread 2       8.270  
Kevlar Thread 3       11.889  
Kevlar Thread 4       12.753  
      Average Break Load 10.813  
Nomex Thread 1 #69 Synthetic " Natural BTS Bonded" 6.546  
Nomex Thread 2       10.508  
Nomex Thread 3       10.686  
Nomex Thread 4       9.644  
      Average Break Load 9.346  
These threads were overhand Knotted on each end to secure it to the test fixture. On average, the Kevlar did better. (More details on the thread used when it becomes available)


Joel Corwith's Knot test*
Test Series # Type Width"  Description or Source Peak Load (lbs) Elongation at break (in)
No Knot Tube Nylon 3/8 357.482  
No Knot Tube Nylon 3/8 348.225
No Knot Tube Nylon 3/8 350.149
Surgeon Tube Nylon 3/8 250.458
Sheet Bend Tube Nylon 3/8 274.765
Sheet Bend Tube Nylon 3/8 276.470
Square Tube Nylon 3/8 205.800
Water Tube Nylon 3/8 297.154
Epoxy Tube Nylon 3/8 43.603
* In all of the cases, The knot pulled tighter so elongation data is irrelevant. The failure of the knots was the result of the knot squeezing the cord while under tension.


Ken's Cords tested with a 6" gauge length
Test Series # Type Width"  Description or Source Peak Load (lbs) Elongation in 6"
SC-1 T-Ny 0.590  Aardvark Rockets 479.164  1.106
SC-1 T-Ny 0.590  "  717.726 0.961
SC-1 T-Ny 0.590  "  772.883 1.142
 Mean  0 0.590   "  656.591  
 Std Dev  0  0  0  156.111  
Test Series # Type Width"  Description or Source Peak Load (lbs) Elongation in 6"
SC-2 T-Ny 0.230  Sporting Goods Store  96.184 2.324
SC-2 T-Ny 0.230  "  97.224 2.759
SC-2 T-Ny 0.230  "  92.058 1.699
 Mean  0 0.230   "  95.155  
 Std Dev  0  0  0  2.732  
Test Series # Type Width"  Description or Source Peak Load (lbs) Elongation in 6"
SC-3 T-Ny 1.02  All Hobbies  1217.586 1.312
SC-3 T-Ny 1.02  "  1331.671 1.196
SC-3 T-Ny 1.02  "  1337.548 1.145
 Mean  0  1.02  "  1295.601  
 Std Dev 0 0  0 67.627
Test Series # Type Width"  Description or Source Peak Load (lbs) Elongation in 6"
SC-4 T-Ny 0.250  Sporting Goods Store 175.645  1.683*
SC-4 T-Ny 0.250  See "*" Below * 4.853*
SC-4 T-Ny 0.250  See "*" Below * 1.969*
 Mean 0 0.250  0 * *
 Std Dev  0  0  0 *  *
Test Series # Type Width" Description or Source  Peak Load (lbs) Elongation in 6"
SC-5 T-Ny 0.240 Sporting Goods Store 126.184 1.529
SC-5 T-Ny 0.240  " 133.592 1.234
SC-5 T-Ny 0.240  " 129.613 1.207
 Mean 0 0.240  " 129.796 1.198
 Std Dev 0 0  0 3.707 0.041
Test Series # Type Width"  Description or Source Peak Load (lbs) Elongation in 6"
SC-6 T-Ny 0.337 Sporting Goods Store 280.740 1.824
SC-6 T-Ny 0.337  " 293.882 1.618
SC-6 T-Ny 0.337  " 298.209 1.683
 Mean 0 0.337  " 290.944 1.709
 Std Dev 0 0  0 9.098 0.105
Test Series # Type Width"  Description or Source Peak Load (lbs) Elongation in 6"
SC-7 T-Ny 0.474 Sporting Goods Store 406.955 1.647
SC-7 T-Ny 0.474 " 447.798 2.172
SC-7 T-Ny 0.474 " 433.832 1.818
 Mean 0 0.474 0 429.529 1.879
 Std Dev 0 0 0 20.759 0.268
Test Series # Type Width"  Description or Source Peak Load Elongation in 6"
SC-8 Underwear 0.978 Could not be tested** * *
* The SC-4 test pieces gave me grief. It has a core material that broke at a different point than the outer material. As a result, the data from two of the tests "did not compute". Look at the graph from the second SC-4 test.

** The bungee type cords could not be tested. The amount of travel to break the cord was more than my actuator travels, Even with the upper and lower fixtures starting out touching.



Rick's 9/16 Tubular nylon*
Test Series # Type Width"  Description or Source Peak Load (lbs) Elongation at break (in)
SC-9 T-Ny 0.587 Unknown 1308.430 4.274
SC-9 T-Ny 0.587 " 1321.005 2.964
SC-9 T-Ny 0.587 " 1388.228 2.856
SC-9 T-Ny 0.587 " 1412.359 3.009
SC-9 T-Ny 0.587 " 1391.675 3.109
SC-9 T-Ny 0.587 " 1377.904 3.116
 Mean 0 0 " 1366.599 3.221
 Std Dev 0 0 " 41.907 0.525
* 2 foot lengths tested with cam type fixture


John's Kevlar*
Test Series # Type Width"  Description or Source Peak Load (lbs) Elongation at break (in)
SC-10 Tube Kevlar 0.576 Unknown 3666.899 1.632
SC-10 Tube Kevlar 0.576 " 3401.456 1.519
SC-10 Tube Kevlar 0.576 " 3563.127 2.004
SC-10 Tube Kevlar 0.576 " 3653.450 2.048
 Mean 0 0.576 0 3571.233 1.801
 Std Dev 0 0 0 122.204 0.265
* 2 foot lengths tested with cam type fixture


Robert DeHate's Interwoven Shock Cords*
Test Series # Type Width"  Description or Source Peak Load (lbs) Elongation at break (in)
1 Tube Kevlar 0.500 Pratt Hobbies TKL-C 4071.464 Picture
2 Tube Kevlar 0.500 Pratt Hobbies TKL-C 2867.800
3 Tube Kevlar 0.500 Pratt Hobbies TKL-C 3134.290
* In all three cases, the steel link broke before the shock cord.

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