Strength Test Results
In May of this year, we had the opportunity to visit a friend at the New Mexico State University Engineering Dept. He assisted us in conducting several strength tests of two belts. These belts came directly off of our production line. One belt was a our standard rigger belt with an Austrialpin Slide Block Buckle. The second belt tested was our Diamondback Cobra Belt. The NMSU Engineering Dept has a machine that is designed to crush concrete samples to determine tensile strength. This machine will also pull objects apart. It then generates a graph that shows the amount of force that was applied. This machine did not have proper mounting points to run webbing through. In order to test our belts, we had had to improvise mounts using steel bar stock and prusik cord. While testing the standard rigger belt, we had to make a few adjustments to our mounting system. In several instances the prusik cords broke and in one instance the 1/2″ steel bar broke before we could get anything on the belt to fail. Below you will find three short video clips: An introduction, the footage of the belt breaking, and a follow up. To see additional tests as well as some out takes, please visit the Gun Culture page.
[nggallery id=9]
The image above shows the point at which the buckle fails, which is just over 5000 lbs. This is 1000 lbs over the rating stamped on the buckle. This is a 20% safety margin which is fairly standard with life safety equipment. The Type 13 webbing is rated at 7000 lbs. However, when it is in a loop configuration such as a belt, the strength is doubled to 14000 lbs, which is well beyond the limit of the Cobra buckle. We are extremely impressed with the quality products that Austrialpin produces.