question about weight ratings for fabric

[stevebo]

Hey guys, just a quick question; when it comes to weight ratings for fabrics , does hammock size come into play? I would think that a larger hammock would spread the weight around more, thus a lighter fabric would have a higher rating if used in this way---what do you think? Also, what would you rate a single layer of 1.5 ripstop? What about a double layer, one of 1.5, and the other of 1.1? Would it matter which one is on top? Anyway, just a couple of off the wall questions to think about---thanks for the help!

[cinnamon]

What about a double layer, one of 1.5, and the other of 1.1? Would it matter which one is on top?

i would think that you'd want the 1.1 to be the layer that you lay on. my understanding is that most likely the 1.1 would have more stretch to it than 1.5, and personally i would want the stretchier fabric to take the weight first. the rest i can't comment on, don't know.....

[Merganser]

I made a double layer with 1.9 and 1.1. I put the 1.9 on the inside. I figured the heavier fabric would bear most of the weight and the lighter would just handle anything it didn't.

What we need is a smart physics expert to tell us how this really works.

[joemcc]

I just did a double layer of the same material. Can't go wrong with top or bottom!

[DemostiX]

The load is the load. A string doesn't break later rather than sooner if it is longer.

If two layers are intimate then you choose top and bottom by what you want of them. Maybe you want the one that is more abrasion-resistant on the bottom, though that would matter more for a a vessel that would be on the ground in bivy use. More likely for a hammock, you'd choose the inner layer (and side) for feel.That is what I understand Tree to Tree does for its double layer hammock. Claytor uses uses polyester on the inner and nylon for the outer for one of its models, explicitly for feel inside and toughness and water repellency out.

[stevebo]

Thanks for the input guys! I weigh around 235, and am using 1 layer of 1.5 and one layer of 1.1. I'm thinking that should be ok? My hammock is trapazoid in shape, so the supporting channel is wider than a simple rectangle. I was thinking it would tend to distribute the load more evenly, kind of like a boeing 747---even though its really big, it has lots of tires to spread its weight out on the runway. Anyway it seems to be pretty sturdy--------------I'll let you know how things go!