CoxEngineering

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Anchoring

Alongside
Atanchor
Clinks
Chain
Connectors
Linesashore
Regalvanising
Windlass
Swivelconnect

Chaindimensionsandcalibration

Chaindimensions,andthereforethegypsiesthatwillacceptthem,varyconsiderablyaccordingtowhethertheyaremadeto
imperialormetricstandardsandevenbetweenmanufacturers.EuropeanmadechainistoDIN766and/orISO4565andmost
Europeangypsieswillacceptit.Thereisastrangeanomalythathascaughtoutmanyowners.Thedimensionsofthetwo
standardsareidenticalforallchainsizesexcept10mm,inwhichthelinklengthis2mmdifferent.Thegypsyshouldbe
markedinsomewaytoidentifytowhichstandarditconforms.

Suppliersnormallyprooftestchaintobetween40%and50%oftheratedMinimumBreakLoad(MBL),whereasthequoted
SafeWorkingLoad(SWL)is25%oftheMBL.

Notethatmanyotherstandardsexistforshortlinknonmarinechainwhosedimensionsaredifferent.Chaintothesestandards
willnotfitanygypsies.

AmericanchainismademainlytoISOG30andG43standardswithlongerlinksthatmaynotfitEuropeangypsies.Notethat
thedimensionsofthesetwogradesarenotthesame.G43(Grade40)ismorewidelyusedforanchorrodesinUSA.

Europeandimensions(allmillimetresexceptwhereshown)

Cruising
Engine
Heatingandrefrigeration
Links
Metallurgy
Sailsandrig
Sterngear
YMAnyquestions

Grade30

Wiresize

6
7
8
10
10
12

8
10
10
12

18.5

24
28
30
36

12
14
14
18

SWL,kN
(tons)
4(0.4)

7.5(0.75)
12.5(1.25)
12.5(1.25)
17.5(1.75)

UTS,kN
(tons)
16(1.6)
24.4(2.44)
30(3.0)
50(5.0)
50(5.0)
70(7.0)

Weight
(kgperm)

0.85
1.1
1.45
2.3
2.3
3.8

DIN766andISO4565
DIN766andISO4565
DIN766andISO4565
DIN766
ISO4565
DIN766andISO4565

Grade40

Wiresize

6
7
8
10
10
12

8
10
10
12

18.5

24
28
30
36

10.5
14
12
15

Wiresize

8
10
10
12

8
10
10
12

24
28
30
36

SWL,kN
(tons)
6.75(.675)
7.75(.775)
10(1.0)
12.5(1.25)
15.5(1.55)
22.5(2.25)

UTS,kN
(tons)
27(2.7)
31(3.1)
40(4.0)
50(5.0)
62(6.2)
90(9.0)

DIN766andISO4565
DIN766andISO4565
DIN766andISO4565
DIN766
ISO4565
DIN766andISO4565

Grade70

UTS,kN
(tons)
70(7.0)
110(11.0)
110(11.0)
158(15.8)

SWL,kN
(tons)
14(1.4)
22(2.2)
22(2.2)
31.6(3.16)

C
(mm)
10

SWL,kN
(lbs)
3.56(800)

UTS,kN
(tons)
14.24(1.42)

DIN766andISO4565
DIN766
ISO4565
DIN766andISO4565

Americandimensions
USA G30 Proof Coil
Wiresize
(ins)
3/16

A
(mm)
5.5

B
(mm)
24.6

ISOG30

1/4
5/16
3/8

7
8.4
10

25.4
28.5
31

12.7
12.7
15.8

1/2

13

38

20.6

5.78(1300)
8.45(1900)
11.79
(2650)
20.02
(4500)

23.12(2.32)
33.8(3.39)
47.16(4.73)

ISOG30
ISOG30
ISOG30

80.08(8.04)

ISOG30

USAG43Hightest
Wiresize
(ins)
1/4

A
(mm)
7

B
(mm)
21.3

C
(mm)
10.41

5/16

8.4

26.2

12.95

3/8

10

31

15.0

7/16

11.8

35.6

16.5

1/2

13

40.34

19.3

SWL,
kN(lbs)
11.57
(2600)
17.35
(3900)
24.02
(5400)
32.03
(7200)
40.92
(9200)

UTS,kN
(tons)
46.28
(4.64)
69.4(6.96)

96.08
(9.64)
128.12
(12.86)
163.68
(16.43)

ISOG43

ISOG43
ISOG43

ISOG43
ISOG43

Grade30BBB(alldimensionsinches)
Chainsize

Wiredia

InnerL

InnerW

OuterL

OuterW

Link/ft

1/4

.281

.87

.43

1.43

.99

14

5/16

.343

1.00

.50

1.691

1.19

12

3/8

.406

1.09

.62

1.901

1.43

11

1/2

.531

1.34

.75

2.401

1.81

Grade40BBB(alldimensionsinches)
Chainsize

Wiredia

InnerL

InnerW

OuterL

OuterW

Link/ft

1/4

.274

.845

.41

1.39

.96

14.2

5/16

.330

1.03

.50

1.69

1.16

11.7

3/8

.394

1.22

.60

2.01

1.39

9.8

7/16

.467

1.40

.66

2.33

1.59

8.6

1/2

.510

1.59

.77

2.61

1.79

7.6

Compositionofcarbonsteelsforchainmanufacture
Thestrengthofthefinishedchainisdeterminedbythecompositionandtreatmentofthesteelusedforitsmanufacture.Marinechainwith
theloweststrengthisGrade30,madefromlowcarbonsteelsuchasDIN10301(EU)SAE1008(US).ForGrade40thecarbonand
manganesecontentsareincreased,givingabouta25%increaseinstrength,butwithoutheattreatment.ThissteelistypicallyDIN1.1133
(EU)SAE1022(US).Thesegradesmaybegalvanizedwithoutconcernsoverstrengthreduction.

Grade70chainismanufacturedfromthesamesteelasGrade40butitisheattreatedtoincreasestrengthbyafurther20%.Thereisa
riskthatregalvanisingthisgradecouldinducehydrogenembrittlement,whichwouldweakenit.Anyownercontemplatingregalvanising
thisgradeisadvisedtoseekexpertadvicebeforegoingahead.

Themajorbenefitingoingtohighergradesisthattheweightofchainbeingcarriedcanbereducedfornoreductionin
strength.

Propertiesofchainsteels

Composition
Iron
Carbon
Manganese
Phosphorus
Copper
Sulphur
Quench/temper
Tensilestrength

Chaintesting

Grade30

Balance
0.08
0.6max
0.035max
0.2min
0.04

302357MPa

Grade40/43

Balance
0.170.23
0.71.4
0.05max

0.05max

550MPa

Grade70

Balance
0.170.23
0.71.4
0.05max

0.05max
875/600C
550700MPa

Abatchof13samplespreparedfortesting.Threesamplesofeach8mmchain
weretested.

Asampleshowingsignsofextensionunderload
inthetensiletestingmachine.

Atotalof13chainsampleswastesteddestructivelyusinga50tonDenisontensiletester.Thesamplesincludedseveralmade
inEuropebutthemajoritywerefromChinesefactories.FourwereGrade40,ninewereGrade30.Everysampleachievedthe
requiredstrengthforitsgradebutitwasnoticeablethateveryChineseGrade30chain,withoneexception,deliveredthe
strengthofaGrade40.TheresultsuggeststhatsteelsusedforGrade40,typicalofconstructionalsteels,aremorereadily
obtainableinChinathanthelowercarbonsteelusedforGrade30.

Theonlyfailurerecordedoccurredatafaultyweld.Asimpletestwasdevisedthatwasfoundtoreplicatethefailureandalso
showedtheconditionofthegalvanisinginamannerverysimilartothatofthetensiletests.Asinglelinkofchainisclamped
inavicewiththewelddown.Usingahacksawthelinkiscutonthesideoppositetotheweld.Thelinkisthenleveredopen
byabout90degreesusinganadjustablespanner.

Alinkofchaininavicewiththe

weldfacingdown.Theunusually
shortandprotrudingweldscanbe
seen.

Rodeloading

Defectiveweldontheonlychainto
failtensiletesting.Allweldsonthis
samplewerenoticeablyshort,
indicatingincompletewelding.

Poorlyadheredgalvanising.Onmany
samplesthegalvanisingremainedfully
intactafterthesametreatment.

Sofarastheloadingsonanchorrodesareconcerned,thereisenormousvariationofadvice,dependentuponthesafetyand
otherfactorsincludedinthefigures.IwroteadetailedresponsetoasimilarquestionforYMin2008(seeYMAny
questions).InmyviewoneofthebetteronesisthatproposedbyProfessorJohnKnox,inventoroftheAnchorwatch,whose
theoreticalequationisbackedupbymeasuredvalues.Hisequationis:
Force(inkgforce)=(1/500)x(LOAinmetressquared)x(windspeedinknotssquared).

Thisequationgivesarodeloadof90kgforceformyboatin20knotsofwind,whichseemstobearealisticvalue.