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Fall Impact Force

Description

In lead climbing using a dynamic rope, the fall factor (f) is the ratio of the height (h) a climber falls before the climber’s rope begins to stretch and the rope length (L) available to absorb the energy of the fall.

The impact force is defined as the maximum tension in the rope when a climber falls. Using the common rope model of an undamped harmonic oscillator (HO) the impact force Fmax in the rope is given by the formula shown here.

Related formulas

Variables

Fmaxfall impact force (N)
mclimber's mass (kg)
gStandard gravity
hfall height (m)
kspring constant of the rope (N/m)