Some Field and Laboratory Results Obtained with Kevlar Mooring Lines

The potential advantages of Kevlar as a strength member for oceanographic moorings are well known and these have resulted in a rapid expansion of its application in the marine environment. However, some, but not all users have noted an apparent and variable strength reduction after field exposure. This paper describes some field experiences with Kevlar for subsurface single point moorings and outlines the work that has been done in the laboratory on samples tested after field exposure. The analysis of results obtained indicate that testing procedure and sample preparation play an important role in the evaluation of the apparent strength loss phenomenon and could account for a major part of observed strength reductions.