How much does a sharp bend in a rope reduce its strength by?

• A. 25%
• B. 50%
• C. 75%
• D. 10%

Answer: (B)

A sharp bend halves the rope’s strength. When rope is bent sharply, the inner fibers compress while the outer fibers stretch, creating uneven load sharing. This bending introduces stress concentrations and friction within the rope, which promotes micro-damage and reduces the effective area that can carry load. The net result is a substantial drop in ultimate tensile strength, typically about 50% for a very sharp bend. In practice, avoid tight bends by using larger bend radii, padding, or pulleys to keep the rope’s bend gentle, and inspect any rope that has been bent sharply for signs of damage.