What percent of lines breaking strength is remaining for an eye splice?

• A. 10%
• B. 25%
• C. 75%
• D. 50%

Answer: (D)

The main idea here is how a termination like an eye splice changes how a rope carries load. Forming an eye splice rearranges the fibers and creates bends and intersections where the rope is loaded, so not all of the rope’s strands share the tension as effectively as in a straight length. Friction, fiber crushing, and the altered load path reduce the amount of material actually carrying the load, so the splice doesn’t preserve the full breaking strength. In a properly made eye splice, about half of the rope’s original breaking strength remains, so the remaining strength is roughly fifty percent. This value is a practical de-rating used in rigging; other figures would not reflect the typical loss associated with a standard eye splice.