Understanding “the 3Ts”
Fatigue – the process of fiber degradation – is invisible to the eye, meaning that damage can’t be detected from visual inspection. What’s more, fatigue can happen more quickly or slowly depending on the conditions in which the rope is used. The three parameters affecting the rate of fatigue are the Time under load, the Tension level, and the operating Temperature. Together, we call these factors the 3Ts.
The relationship between these factors is non-linear, so it’s important for mooring rope users to understand their combined effect.
Get to grips with internal fatigue
Mooring ropes can be designed to maximize strength-to-weight ratio, or they can be designed with more core fiber to increase fatigue life. Either way, factors such as increased tension during operations (e.g., when the rope is loaded more heavily to secure a vessel), mooring in mild versus severe conditions, and variations in ambient temperature can all significantly impact a rope’s internal fatigue.
Now, the Dyneema® mooring rope service lifetime tool allows you to quickly and easily view the effect of Temperature and Tension on rope fatigue.
This tool is designed to give you a visual understanding of a rope’s remaining service life (i.e., its safe operational period) and demonstrate how the unique fatigue buffer built into ropes made with Dyneema® SK78 fiber ensures safer mooring operations.
Ready to try it out? Simply adjust the parameters below to fit your application and conditions – and gain clear insights into how the 3Ts affect the predicted point of failure for different fiber types.
Mooring rope service lifetime visualizer
This tool allows you to visualize the effects of the built-in fatigue buffer of ropes made with Dyneema® SK78 fiber, given a desired mooring rope service lifetime. Our in-depth modeling is based on DNV-qualified tension fatigue equations.
Note: Mooring lifetime visualization tool calculations are based on DNV-qualified equations.
Discover Dyneema® SK78 fiber in mooring lines
The Dyneema® difference
As you explore the modeling tool, you’ll notice a clear performance difference between generic HMPE fibers and Dyneema® SK78 fiber.
That’s because Dyneema® SK78 fiber has been molecularly engineered to deliver:
AT LEAST 3X BETTER FATIGUE RESISTANCE THAN GENERIC HMPE
SUPERIOR PERFORMANCE EVEN UNDER DEMANDING CONDITIONS
A BUILT-IN FATIGUE BUFFER
The fatigue buffer is unique to Dyneema®, owing to our fibers’ superior fatigue performance and to our data, testing, and modeling capabilities. The size of that buffer at any given moment depends on the rope’s mooring history – including the Tension, Temperature, and Time that the rope has already experienced.
Discover Dyneema® SK78 fiber in mooring lines.
Reliability in the core of every fiber
As the world’s only backward-integrated manufacturer of UHMWPE, Dyneema® controls the entire production process from polymer to fiber. This unique capability means we can perform molecular engineering at the polymer stage and design to enhance properties like fatigue resistance. In turn, this translates into a larger reliability buffer in mooring lines.
In turn, this translates into mooring lines with a fatigue buffer built in – delivering ultimate rope reliability and giving operators control over the safety of their mooring system.
Explore our full suite of advanced modeling tools
Built using DNV-qualified equations, this interactive visualization tool offers an introduction to rope reliability modeling. But that’s just a glimpse of what we have to offer. We’ve developed comprehensive testing protocols and models – including our rope tension fatigue model, rope temperature model, and other advanced testing equipment – to help make the invisible visible.
Our highly sophisticated modeling tools provide accurate, comprehensive, and detailed lifetime predictions, tailored to your operational conditions.
Get in touch to learn more about:
Advanced reliability modeling for your specific application
Fairlead abrasion tests
Rope temperature model
Creep performance tool
Dyneema® SK78 fiber specifications