Re: [Paddlewise] Impact loading of tow lines.

From: Merijn Wijnen <merijn_at_music.demon.nl>
Date: Tue, 19 Oct 1999 17:27:49 +0100
Julio wrote:
> The maximum acceleration that the human body can
> withstand for a very short period of time without suffering injury
> is 20 g's.  
True, but only when very well supported, e.g. in a fighter plane 
pressure suit. But here we have a connection that is much worse. If 
you connect the cable to the boat, then a 20 g stop  would katapult 
you out of your seat onto the foredeck. If you tie the cable to 
around waist a 20 g stop will try to pull a little section out of your  
body, with damaging effects on your internal organs and spine. To 
illustrate the huge acceleration: 20 g acceleration woud stop a car 
moving at 55 mile/h within 0.13 seconds, or within a distance of 1.6 
meter!
 Another point:
All calculations up to now neglect the effect of the rope itself.  
However, for an elastic kind of rope, the rope itselsf does take a lot 
of the energy. This is exactly the effect that rock klimbers and 
mountaineers use. No bugees there, only  (specials types of) rope.

Just for what it is worth,

Greetings,
Merijn


******************************
Merijn Wijnen
Vinkenhofje 8
5613 CN Eindhoven
The Netherlands
Tel.: 040-2939991          (job: 040-2650539)
Fax:  same as tel., call before sending or try twice
E-mail: Home: merijn_at_music.demon.nl
        Job:  m.wijnen_at_ind.tno.nl
Web-site: http:\\www.music.demon.nl

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Received on Tue Oct 19 1999 - 08:29:39 PDT

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