Tensile Testing
Synthetic Rope Testing For Quality Management and Industry Research
Our in-house tensile testing equipment allows us to test and certify rope assemblies and hardware as they are produced and used in our products. This capability allows us to provide confidence in the safety and reliability of our products without relying on third party testing facilities that increase cost and lead time. Whether we are proof loading Special Patrol Insertion and Extraction Systems (S.P.I.E.S), pre-stretching rope for high tolerance aviation systems, or break testing used assemblies to define residual strength, our quality mindset leads the way.
What is proof testing?
A proof test is a form of stress test used to demonstrate the fitness of a load-bearing structure (such as a sling, pendant, or shackle). At our facility we subject rope and hardware fittings to loads above that expected in actual use, demonstrating safety and design margin. Proof tests may be performed before a new design or unit is allowed to enter service or to verify that an existing unit is still functional as intended (recertification).
What is proof testing?
Quality Assurance
A key component to our quality management system (QMS) is our proof loading and certification process used to verify that finished products satisfy the requirements of our customers and the end user. Not only do we apply this process to products we manufacture, but also as a third party testing and certification facility for products you already own or intend to use.
Quality Assurance
What is break testing?
Break testing is a type of destructive testing used to define the ultimate tensile stress, or load at which a rope fractured, of a material specimen, such as a used sling. For safety reasons we do not break test hardware fittings, wire rope, or chain at our facility, however, do utilize break testing on new and used ropes to evaluate ropes of unknown origin, new splicing methodology, residual strength, and more. Common outputs for Break Testing include minimum breaking strength, average breaking strength, and elongation at break.
What is break testing?
Research
Many of the synthetic rope fibers, constructions, and applications we deal with are novel relative to traditional fiber and wire rope, however, the advantages of HMPE ropes and other advanced synthetic ropes are driving companies to make the switch. A problem that arises from this is a lack of real-world evidence to support novel rope performance characteristics after use, especially for unique applications. At OPR we address this by offering services to quantify properties such as breaking strength after a given use in the field. This effort advances our customer’s knowledge of how a given rope product will perform in their application, aiding their decision making process.
Research
Capabilities
Proof Testing
Break Testing
Cycle Loading
Pre-stretching
Adjustable Strain Rate