Nylon rope loses what percentage of its strength when wet?

Nylon rope loses what percentage of its strength when wet?

• A. 5-9%
• B. 10-15%
• C. 20-25%
• D. 30-40%

Answer: (B)

Moisture weakens nylon rope because water penetrates the fibers and slightly softens them, reducing the rope’s stiffness and the internal friction between strands. In practical terms, a wet nylon rope typically loses about 10 to 15 percent of its dry breaking strength. So, if a dry rope has a certain load it can safely carry, the same rope when wet will be able to carry roughly 85 percent of that load. This ~10–15% reduction is a standard reference point, though the exact amount can vary with rope diameter, age, and how long it’s been wet. The other options imply much larger or smaller losses than what is commonly observed with nylon, so 10–15% is the best answer.

Moisture weakens nylon rope because water penetrates the fibers and slightly softens them, reducing the rope’s stiffness and the internal friction between strands. In practical terms, a wet nylon rope typically loses about 10 to 15 percent of its dry breaking strength. So, if a dry rope has a certain load it can safely carry, the same rope when wet will be able to carry roughly 85 percent of that load. This ~10–15% reduction is a standard reference point, though the exact amount can vary with rope diameter, age, and how long it’s been wet. The other options imply much larger or smaller losses than what is commonly observed with nylon, so 10–15% is the best answer.