Break Strength. The material 

 must have sufficient tensile strength 

 to withstand a load of at least 450 

 pounds per inch of width in both the 

 longitudinal and transverse directions. 

 Containment booms are subjected 

 to a variety of structural loads dur- 

 ing operation. These loads come 

 from wind and wave action as well as 

 from water currents when a boom is 

 anchored or held in position by boats. 

 Additionally, during emergency 

 situations, booms are often towed 

 through the water to the spill site 

 at speeds up to 10 knots. The loads 

 applied during these tows is depend- 

 ent on the hydrodynamic character- 

 istics of the particular boom design. 

 The breaking strength requirement 

 pertains primarily to the fence 

 material rather than to the flotation 

 material. However, in certain designs, 

 the same strength may also be required 

 in the flotation. Also, in some 

 designs, the fence fabric serves as 

 the primary strength member, in which 

 case the fence material must meet the 

 static line pull requirements for the 



To 



determine the breaking strength and to allow comparisons between material, 

 the materials should be tested in accordance with Federal Test Method 

 Standard (FTMS) 191 Method 5102 [3]. 



Tear Propagation Resistance. The material must not tear easily 

 after being cut, snagged, or punctured. The fabric should rope up* to 

 limit the propagation of a tear once it has started. The boom material 

 must offer sufficient resistance to the propagation of tears to prevent 

 the boom from failing completely by being severed when subjected to the 

 high tensile load encountered under operational conditions. 



Booms can incur rips or cuts during deployment and retrieval opera- 

 tions as the boom is dragged along the ground or pulled over the side of 

 piers and docks. They can also become snagged on pilings or damaged by 

 floating debris while in use. On-shore handling of booms incidental to 

 actual spill control operation can also result in tears and cuts to the 



strength member 



/ 



loop 1/4-in. steel cable twisted 



Figure 1 . Typical boom, 

 complete boom specified in Military Specification MIL-B-28617B (YD) 



Slippage of the yarns so they bunch together rather 

 than breaking as the tear progresses. 



