Research ideas for students of rescue NOTE: If you want to take on one of these topics feel free to do so but PLEASE let us know that you re taking it so we can mark it as taken to prevent duplication of effort. If no research report is received within 9 months the topic will be put back into the pool. Secondly, if you do have research results, please pass them on we need this information to be available to the rescue community. Research means nothing if the results aren t distributed. Thirdly, if you have a topic you d like investigated then let us know and we ll add to the list. [LAST UPDATED - 2009-12-03] 1. Effect of turning radius in kernmantel rope Why this one? Well, we all get taught about the effects of tight turns in rope and how they weaken the rope. However, try finding any actual research that addresses this. I tried and was unsuccessful. This got me thinking isn t it time someone actually produced some real data? We routinely clip the loops of our knots into carabiners with a diameter of 10mm a turning radius of less than 1 diameter of the rope. I d like to see tests done with an 11mm rope over 10mm, 20mm, 30mm, 40mm, 50mm, 60mm, 70mm, 80mm, 90mm and 100mm. The results might be very enlightening. 2. Effect of differing rope construction types on breaking strength relative to turning radius in kernmantel rope. Kernmantel rope has different constructions some is actually a braid-on-braid, some is a braided core with hawser-laid core strands, some is braided sheath with parallel strands for the core and some (Mammut Paraloc) has the sheath and core interlocking. I d like to see the above test done with each of these different types of rope. Provided that the test method was identical the experiments could be done by differing groups. 3. Typical exposure of rescuers to noise during motor vehicle extrication their ears and record their exposure to noise vs their role during a vehicle extrication 4. Typical exposure of rescuers to noise during trench rescue their ears and record their exposure to noise vs their role during a trench rescue. Measure volume and duration of exposure.
5. Typical exposure of rescuers to noise during structural collapse rescue their ears and record their exposure to noise vs their role during a structural collapse 6. Typical exposure of rescuers to noise during helicopter rescue their ears and record their exposure to noise vs their role during a helicopter rescue. Measure volume and duration of exposure. 7. Typical exposure of rescuers to noise during confined space rescue their ears and record their exposure to noise vs their role during a confined space 8. Typical exposure of rescuers to noise during swift water rescue their ears and record their exposure to noise vs their role during a swift water 9. Actual effect of pulley sheave diameter on hauling effort We all know that a larger diameter sheave on a pulley makes for a reduced hauling effort, but how much? This study would require pulleys identical in as many aspects as possible the width of the sheave, the sides of the cheek-plate, the resistance of the axle, bush or bearings and the weight of the sheave. 10. Holding power of picket anchors in varying types of terrain Picket anchors are well known in snow-and-ice rescue where snow-stakes are driven into the snow and tied-back to one-another to give added holding power. Very little info is available on the holding power of pickets in other types of terrain. Provided that the test method was identical the experiments could be done by differing groups. 11. Optimum angle of placement of picket anchors Most texts teach that pickets should be placed at between 60 and 85 to the line of pull. What works best? 12. Optimum depth of placement of picket anchors Most texts teach that pickets should be buried between 2/3 and ¾ of their length into the ground. What works best? 13. Optimum shape and size of pickets for use in picket anchors in soil What is the relative holding power of various shapes and sizes of picket for use in soil?
14. Holding power of different configurations of picket anchors in varying types of terrain. This study could be done in just one type of terrain for each person/group interested in doing it. For South Africa things like mine-dumps, grassland, or coastal cliff could be selected. The idea would be to test what the holding power would be for stakes placed inline vs in a V pattern or a W pattern would be, assuming the same number of stakes per formation, all buried at the same angle to the same depth. Provided that the test method was identical the experiments could be done by differing groups. 15. Relative holding power of a single and tandem prussik belay with 5, 6, 7, 8, 9mm cord where the diameter of the prussic cord is expressed as a percentage of the rope diameter. Most rescue schools simply teach that 8mm prussiks should be used for rescue. So what happens if we use a pair of personal 6mm prussiks how well do they hold? What happens if someone hacks off a piece of 9mm rope to use as a prussik? 16. Modes of failure of a single and tandem prussik belay with 5, 6, 7, 8, 9mm cord where the diameter of the prussic cord is expressed as a percentage of the rope diameter. Given the above experiment, how do these things fail? Do they slip? Fuse and then rip off the sheath? Fuse and bite and snap the rope? Snap themselves? 17. Long term effects of varying contaminants on rope. Assuming a rope is unwashed how do the varying contaminants found at accident scenes or in the emergency world affect rope strength over a period of 4, 6, 8 and 10 months? Substances include: Diesel Petrol Avgas Jet-A1 Vehicle hydraulic fluid Aircraft hydraulic fluid (both types) Rescue tool hydraulic fluid Hydrogen Peroxide Human urine Cat urine Rat urine.and many others I m sure you can think of. Just study one and we can cross it off the list. Provided that the test method was identical the experiments could be done by differing groups. 18. Long term effects of varying contaminants on tape / webbing / slings. Assuming a harness or anchor sling is unwashed how do the varying contaminants found at accident scenes or in the emergency world affect webbing strength over a period of 4, 6, 8 and 10 months? Substances include: Diesel
Petrol Avgas Jet-A1 Vehicle hydraulic fluid Aircraft hydraulic fluid (both types) Rescue tool hydraulic fluid Hydrogen Peroxide Human urine Cat urine Rat urine.and many others I m sure you can think of. Just study one and we can cross it off the list. Provided that the test method was identical the experiments could be done by differing groups. 19. Effects of granular matter (eg: sand) on tensile strength of a rope. Don t step on the rope! We ve all heard it pushes sand into the core which may damage the rope, but how badly? Two ways the test can be done are (a) carefully coil the rope onto a tray of sand and place in a walkway for a week or (b) put the rope into a cement mixer (or barrel of sand) and tumble for a few minutes. Then take the rope and run it under load over a series of small-diameter pulleys to flex it in various directions. Alternately, get 30-50 people to abseil on it after you ve gotten the sand inside. Do a slow-pull and a drop-test to see the effect. 20. Performance of [pick your favourite belay device] in a standard BCCTR drop test with a 100kg (1 person), 136 (NFPA 1 person), 200kg (2 person), 272kg (NFPA 2 person) or 280 kg (3 person) load. The BCCTR drop test basically requires a 1m fall onto 3m rope (the so-called 1/3 factor fall). The device must hold the load with less than 1m additional slippage, must limit the impact force on the anchor to less than 15 kn and should be releasable afterward. Provided that the test method was identical the experiments could be done by differing groups. 21. How well do self-equalising anchors really equalise the load? We all know the arguments but where s the scientific study that shows how the loads are redistributed when the direction of pull changes? 22. Is there a relationship between the stiffness of a rope and ease of hauling? Just curious 23. Fall factor as a tool in rescue how applicable is it? We re all taught fall factor and what it s there for. Derived from climbing, the idea is that regardless of the length of the fall, if the fall factor is the same (eg: 1/3) then the impact force should be the same. BUT this applies to dynamic rope used for climbing. How well does this translate to use with semi-static and static ropes used for rescue? How about testing this using a factor 0.3 (1/3) fall over heights of 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5m using rescue ropes (static and semi-static) to see what the difference in impact force is?
24. Differences between rope breaking over a radius Take a rope and loop it over a radius (eg: 5mm, 10mm, 15mm, 20mm) then slowpull and drop-test with rescue loads (200kg for 11mm rope, 272 kg for 12.7mm rope). Is there a dignificant difference in breaking point? 25. Elongation during factor 0 fall. Comparitive elongation of varying types/brands of rope when subjected to a factor 0 fall (as would happen to a belay rope if the main line failed during a lower). A length of 30m would be indicative of a lower off a building higher than 8-10 stories. What happens if your main line fails 2 stories (6-7m) from the ground? Do this with various brands of 11mm static and dynamic rope. 26.