Determining the Safest Anchoring Knot in a Fall Arrest System by Means of Static Tests

Sáez, Pedro Ignacio; Carrión, Elena Ángela; Ferrer, Belén; García, Encarnación; Monge, Juan Francisco

doi:10.3390/sym16020167

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Determining the Safest Anchoring Knot in a Fall Arrest System by Means of Static Tests

by

Pedro Ignacio Sáez

^1,*

,

Elena Ángela Carrión

²

,

Belén Ferrer

³

,

Encarnación García

^1,*

and

Juan Francisco Monge

⁴

¹

Building Sciences and Urbanism Department, University of Alicante, Carretera de San Vicente del Raspeig s/n, 03690 San Vicente del Raspeig, Alicante, Spain

²

Cresmes, Research Group for Testing, Simulation and Modelling Structures in Civil Engineering and Architecture, Civil Engineering Department, University of Alicante, Carretera de San Vicente del Raspeig s/n, 03690 San Vicente del Raspeig, Alicante, Spain

³

Civil Engineering Department, University of Alicante, Carretera de San Vicente del Raspeig s/n, 03690 San Vicente del Raspeig, Alicante, Spain

⁴

Department Statistics, Mathematics and Informatics, Universitas Miguel Hernández, Avenida Universidad s/n, 03202 Elche, Alicante, Spain

^*

Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed.

Symmetry 2024, 16(2), 167; https://doi.org/10.3390/sym16020167

Submission received: 2 January 2024 / Revised: 25 January 2024 / Accepted: 29 January 2024 / Published: 31 January 2024

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Symmetry in the Mechanical Behavior of Materials)

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Abstract

Today, rope access systems (RASs) and fall arrest systems (FASs) incorporate significant technological innovations. This research aims to determine the safest knot to be used in RASs. The most secure knots are those that leave the most resistance in the rope. Static laboratory tests, followed by an extensive statistical analysis of the obtained data, were carried out under controlled conditions. Five types of anchor knots were selected and studied using three rope models with similar diameters, and we analysed the symmetrical versions in the dextrorotational direction. Thirty break tests were performed for each rope model. The total number of breakage tests was 90. The double overhand knot proved to be the safest knot with an average efficiency of 61.82%. A better understanding of the behaviour of knots and their correct use in FASs will be key to accident prevention.

Keywords: knot efficiency; construction; safety; risk; personal fall protection systems; rope access system; fall arrest systems; statistical properties

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MDPI and ACS Style

Sáez, P.I.; Carrión, E.Á.; Ferrer, B.; García, E.; Monge, J.F. Determining the Safest Anchoring Knot in a Fall Arrest System by Means of Static Tests. Symmetry 2024, 16, 167. https://doi.org/10.3390/sym16020167

AMA Style

Sáez PI, Carrión EÁ, Ferrer B, García E, Monge JF. Determining the Safest Anchoring Knot in a Fall Arrest System by Means of Static Tests. Symmetry. 2024; 16(2):167. https://doi.org/10.3390/sym16020167

Chicago/Turabian Style

Sáez, Pedro Ignacio, Elena Ángela Carrión, Belén Ferrer, Encarnación García, and Juan Francisco Monge. 2024. "Determining the Safest Anchoring Knot in a Fall Arrest System by Means of Static Tests" Symmetry 16, no. 2: 167. https://doi.org/10.3390/sym16020167

APA Style

Sáez, P. I., Carrión, E. Á., Ferrer, B., García, E., & Monge, J. F. (2024). Determining the Safest Anchoring Knot in a Fall Arrest System by Means of Static Tests. Symmetry, 16(2), 167. https://doi.org/10.3390/sym16020167

Note that from the first issue of 2016, this journal uses article numbers instead of page numbers. See further details here.

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Determining the Safest Anchoring Knot in a Fall Arrest System by Means of Static Tests

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