What type of line is designed to fail sequentially?

Prepare for the Boatswain’s Mate Chief (BMC) SWE Exam with in-depth study materials and multiple-choice questions. Enhance your understanding with well-explained hints and explanations. Ready yourself to excel!

Multiple Choice

What type of line is designed to fail sequentially?

Explanation:
Progressive or sequential failure happens when a line is built from multiple yarns or strands that share the load. Aramid lines (such as Kevlar) are constructed this way: they carry load with many fibers. When the line is overloaded, the outer fibers reach their limit and fail first, then the next layer takes over and reaches its limit, and so on. This causes the line to weaken in steps rather than snapping all at once, giving a more controlled sequence of failures. In contrast, other materials like nylon, polyester, or polypropylene don’t exhibit that same predictable, stepwise failure pattern in typical use, so they’re not described as designed to fail sequentially.

Progressive or sequential failure happens when a line is built from multiple yarns or strands that share the load. Aramid lines (such as Kevlar) are constructed this way: they carry load with many fibers. When the line is overloaded, the outer fibers reach their limit and fail first, then the next layer takes over and reaches its limit, and so on. This causes the line to weaken in steps rather than snapping all at once, giving a more controlled sequence of failures. In contrast, other materials like nylon, polyester, or polypropylene don’t exhibit that same predictable, stepwise failure pattern in typical use, so they’re not described as designed to fail sequentially.

More Multiple Choice Questions
Subscribe

Get the latest from Passetra

You can unsubscribe at any time. Read our privacy policy