How are forces in anchor lines measured?

[beej67]

I'm working in an application that's not explicitly marine engineering, although it has some similarities. My client will be anchoring floating debris collection rafts in active streams and rivers, and we want to do field testing of how much force is in the anchor line at various flow rates of stream. What sort of measuring devices are typically used to measure the force within an anchor line or tow cable, in marine engineering? Is it just a high strength spring gauge?

Hydrology, Drainage Analysis, Flood Studies, and Complex Stormwater Litigation for Atlanta and the South East -

http://www.campbellcivil.com

 

[andriver]

I measure forces in rigging by placing a tension load cell somewhere in the rigging. You could connect your anchor line to a load cell and get an accurate result.

 

[boo1]

Robert, don't forget the aero loading condition

 

[BUGGAR]

I presume you want something with remote reading? In conjunction with stream flow measurements?

 

[beej67]

I'm not sure at this point how complicated we want to get with it. We might just splice a couple dynamometers into each anchor line, and then measure stream flow by throwing a tin can in the creek upstream and clocking how long it takes to travel 100 ft. The thing is a debris collection raft, after all.

Hydrology, Drainage Analysis, Flood Studies, and Complex Stormwater Litigation for Atlanta and the South East -

http://www.campbellcivil.com

 

[borisdavenport]

Vector calculus is most commonly used