The B-3695 wire rope order exhibited no such problem be- 

 cause the wire rope diameter is , 380" (. 005" larger than the 

 standard 3/8" wire rope), and standard 3/8" terminations and 

 dies may be used with good results. Cyclic tension tests are 

 considered necessary to support development of a long-lived 

 mooring system.. These will be carried out if funds become 

 available . 



Subsequent to the re- working and sample testing, wire 

 rope junctions on the 1967 Eastern Outer Mooring System were 

 proof tested to 6500 lb. tension while loading on the barge. 



Table 4-2 outlines the inspection and proof test procedures 

 performed on all wire rope shots used on the telescope installed 

 last October. Tensioning long shots of wire rope is a hazardous, 

 expensive, and, in many cases unnecessary, procedure. How- 

 ever, it was considered appropriate in our case because the 

 test facility was already required for tensioning signal cable 

 shots, the cost was borne by the manufacturer, and the test 

 provided more data and higher confidence than would be pro- 

 vided by simply proofing the cable terminations. 



4. 1. 2 Testing of Signal Cable Shots 



Prior to the November 1967 installation attempt a reason- 

 ably high level of confidence was held in the signal cable term- 

 inations. This confidence was based on the extensive experi- 

 ence of the manufacturer in this area, backed up by good 

 experience with potted epoxy terminations had by other users. 

 This confidence coupled with the high cost of each termination 

 led us to forego building special articles for qualification test- 

 ing and to restrict ourselves to proof testing all the in-line 

 terminations. Also, in order to conserve funds and avoid a 

 lengthy proof -test procedure which would have slipped the 

 schedule into an even worse weather period, it was decided to 

 proof test the terminations while loading the signal cable under 

 tension on the barge drum. When it came time to do this, an 

 unexpected difficulty developed. The signal cable on either 

 side of Station 1 was covered by 3/4" ID polyethylene tubing for 

 extra abrasion protection. As the high-level tension (6400 lbs. ) 

 required for proof testing was approached, the cable moved 

 inside the polyethylene tubing resulting in slipping and grabbing 

 motion and related large tension transients. We therefore 

 suspended this test, resumed loading, and decided to proof - 

 load subsequent stations which were unencumbered by the poly- 

 ethylene tubing. This proved to be a fatal decision, since term- 

 ination IB on the seaward side of Station 1 failed at approximately 

 4000 lbs. tension during the final stage of installation! The bitter 

 end is shown in Fig. 4-2. 



219 



