Damage to fibers of line occurs when the line under strain exceeds what percent of its breaking strength?

• A. 75%
• B. 50%
• C. 60%
• D. 90%

Answer: (A)

When a line is loaded, its breaking strength is the maximum force it can withstand before failure. Fibers start to suffer damage well before that point because micro-tears, wear, and fraying accumulate under load. Around three-quarters of the breaking strength, these damages become significant enough that the line’s effective strength is reduced, and the risk of sudden failure increases with any additional load or shock. That’s why a practical safety guideline uses 75% of breaking strength as the threshold beyond which fiber damage is likely and the line should not be pushed further. Lower loads leave a comfortable safety margin, while pushing toward the near-breaking point greatly raises the chance of progressive failure.