ultra strong kite lines

> 10 years ago
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qfmike737
qfmike737
QLD
398 posts
QLD, 398 posts
17 Oct 2006 7:27am
look at these new types of rope! Just imagine these things on a kite!

http://www.yalecordage.com/html/news/000530.html

Now the figures in the article indicate :

5000lbs = 2.3 tonne
1/8" = 3.1 mm

That's amazingly strong stuff. It's like your mouse cord lifting two of your big 4WD's at the same time.

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This info made me think of or kite lines and how much surface area they present to the wind
Now say our Dyneema kite lines are 2mm diameter
and our line length is 30 meters
and number of lines is 4 (this will be different for your fifth line type kites)

d = 0.002m (2mm)
l = 30m
n = 4

Now we will calculate the exposed area to the wind the line creates :

diameter of the line (d) * length of line (l) * number of the lines = ldn = Exposed area due to kite lines.

Exposed area due to kite lines = 0.002m*30m*4 = 0.24 meters square.

0.25 square meters = 0.5m*0.5m

So,

The total surface area of my lines is similar to 50cm by 50cm.
Kite lines cause quite a bit of drag really.

(Thanks Rod!)
Keahi
Keahi
QLD
853 posts
QLD, 853 posts
17 Oct 2006 8:02am
is there a picture of the rope
4lawn
4lawn
WA
83 posts
WA, 83 posts
17 Oct 2006 7:24am
Yes there is a picture.... But it's soooo thin you just can't see it...Some spiders are already making their webs out of this stuff ...
elliot
elliot
NSW
22 posts
NSW, 22 posts
17 Oct 2006 12:29pm
It's banned in the states, because it's so thin, when rain lands on it, it splits the water molecules into hydrogen and oxygen atoms, and is thus a fire hazard.

Apparently just thinking about it can damage your brain.
Munter
Munter
NSW
210 posts
NSW, 210 posts
17 Oct 2006 6:23pm
Unfortunately PBO isn't so good with UV or flexing - both of which kite lines have to deal with on a regular basis. I took the quote below from the following web site: na.northsails.com/North_Cloth/industrial_fibers.html

"PBO
At the top of the theoretical performance list is PBO, a fiber made by Japanese company Toyobo. This fiber has been used for a number of years in both 3DL and paneled sails. It has proven to be somewhat better than an aramid sail in performance when new but degrades rapidly under the combination of UV and flex. Because it is a very expensive fiber, its use in sails has all but disappeared in favor of the even higher performance and more durable carbon option."
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