Load Lab
Test Results - Breaking Strength of 1/8" GAC from Differnent Manufacturers

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Created by Delbert L. Hall, Ph.D.
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Disclaimer:  This site contains the currents results of ongoing research and is not a finished presentation of findings.  The information on this site may be the results of a small sample of tests and are NOT conclusive evidence of anything – they are just my results. Take them for what they are.  Any conclusions drawn from these results are yours and not are necessarily mine.  Go the Load Lab Home to read the complete disclaimer.



Date of test: November 25, 2008
Item: 1/8" 7x19 Galvanized Aircraft Cable
Rated Breaking Strength: 2000 lbs
Terminations: One end terminated with a copper swaging sleeve with one crimp, one end terminated with a copper swaging sleeve with three crimps


Test Set: #1
Country of Origin:  Korea

Results:
Sample #       Breaking Strength (lbs)
   1                     1928
   2                     1934

Average: 1931 lbs

Test Set: #2
Country of Origin:  China

Results:
Sample #       Breaking Strength (lbs)
   1                     1698
   2                     1732

Average: 1715 lbs

Note:  Breaking strength of Korean made cable was 12.6% higher than the Chinese made cable
Date of test: November 25, 2008
Item: 1/8" 7x19 Galvanized Aircraft Cable
Rated Breaking Strength: 2000 lbs
Terminations: Both ends terminated with a copper swaging sleeves with three crimps


Test Set: #1
Country of Origin:  Korea

Results:
Sample #       Breaking Strength (lbs)
    1                     2237
   2                     2157
   3                     2207
   4                     2119
   5                     2205

 Average: 2185 lbs

Test Set: #2
Country of Origin:  China

Results:
Sample #       Breaking Strength (lbs)

    1                     1951
   2                     1990
   3                     1900
   4                     1917
   5                     1946

Average: 1940 lbs


Notes:  No sample of the Chinese made cable held the rated breaking strength.
Breaking strength of Korean made cable was 12.6% higher than the Chinese made cable.

These test results are from only two spools of cable and therefore do not provide significant evidence by which to judge all cable from any single manufacturer or country of origin.

Date of test: December 2, 2008
Item: 1/8" 7x19 Galvanized Aircraft Cable
Rated Breaking Strength: 2000 lbs
Terminations: Cable wrapped 3 to 4 turns around 4.5" OD pipe
Photo of test setup

Pipe setup





Test Set: #1
Country of Origin:  Korea

Results:
Sample #       Breaking Strength (lbs)
    1                     2235
   2                     2212


 Average: 2224 lbs

Test Set: #2
Country of Origin:  China

Results:
Sample #       Breaking Strength (lbs)

    1                     1947
   2                     1956
   3                     1952


Average: 1952 lbs


Notes:  In theses tests the cable always broke here  -->O_____O  (on the side, on the final wrap before crossing to the second pipe).  This was where I expected the cable to break.

The difference in the results of the two test sets in the Nov. 25 tests were 12.6% and the difference in the results of the two test sets in the Dec. 2 tests were 13.9%.  It should be noted that I only had enough of the Korean made cable from the same spool as the previous tests for two test samples and the smaller group of samples might account for the slightly higher average BS of the Korean made cable in these test.  I therefore consider the difference insignificant. Based on these results of both sets of tests there is strong evidence to suggest:

1.  That the breaking strength of Korean made cable may be significantly higher than the Chinese made cable.
2.  That cooper swaging sleeves may hold 100% of the breaking strength of the cable
3.  That the testing method used in the Dec. 2  tests was valid

These test results are from only two spools of cable and therefore do not provide significant evidence by which to judge all cable from any single manufacturer or country of origin.
Date of test: December 11, 2008
Item: 1/8" 7x19 Galvanized Aircraft Cable
Supplier: Fehr Bros. Industries (Fairline brand)
 Rated Breaking Strength: 2,000 lbs
Terminations: Cable wrapped 3 to 4 turns around 4.5" OD pipe

Test Set: #1
Country of Origin:  China

Results:
Sample #       Breaking Strength (lbs)

    1                     2240
   2                     2279
   3                     2242
   4                     2243

Average:  2251

Note: The cable above was from a different supplier than the spool of Chinese GAC tested earlier.  This supplier had written "Mil. Spec." on the outside of the box.  Indeed this cable did meet the tensile strength specifications that are associated with Mil. Spec. cable.  I have been told by several sources that Mil. Spec. GAC should hold 110% to 115% of the min. rated BS of the cable.  This is exactly what this cable held.  
   
Copyright 2008 - Delbert L. Hall