A knot is a method of fastening or securing linear material such as rope A rope is a length of fibres, twisted or braided together to improve strength for pulling and connecting. It has tensile strength but is too flexible to provide compressive strength . Rope is thicker and stronger than similarly constructed cord, line, string, and twine by tying or interweaving. It may consist of a length of one or several segments of rope, string, webbing Webbing is a strong fabric woven as a flat strip or tube of varying width and fibers often used in place of rope. The name webbing comes from the meshed material frequently used in its construction, which resembles a web.[citation needed] It is a versatile component used in climbing, slacklining, furniture manufacturing, automobile safety, auto, twine Twine is a strong thread or string composed of two or more smaller strands or yarns twisted together. More generally, the term can be applied to any thin cord, strap A strap, sometimes also called strop, is an elongated flap or ribbon, usually of fabric or leather, or even chain Categories: Chains | Mechanical power control | Mechanical power transmission interwoven such that the line can bind to itself or to some other object—the "load". Knots have been the subject of interest for their ancient origins, their common uses, and the area of mathematics known as knot theory In mathematics, knot theory is the area of topology that studies mathematical knots. While inspired by knots which appear in daily life in shoelaces and rope, a mathematician's knot differs in that the ends are joined together to prevent it from becoming undone. In precise mathematical language, a knot is an embedding of a circle in 3-dimensional.

Usage

There is a large variety of knots, each with properties that make it suitable for a range of tasks. Some knots are used to attach the rope (or other knotting material) to other objects such as another rope, cleat, ring, or stake. Some knots are used to bind or constrict objects. Decorative knots usually bind to themselves to produce attractive patterns. The ability to choose the right knot for the job is a core skill of knot-tying. However, if memory is limited, three of the most useful knots are the bowline The bowline is an ancient and simple knot used to form a fixed loop at the end of a rope. It has the virtues of being both easy to tie and untie. Although generally considered a reliable knot, its main deficiencies are a tendency to work loose when not under load and the bight portion of the knot to capsize in certain circumstances.[citation, the sheet bend The Sheet bend is a bend that joins two ropes together. Doubled, it is effective in binding lines of different diameter or rigidity securely together, and the clove hitch The clove hitch is a type of knot. Along with the bowline and the sheet bend, it is often considered one of the most essential knots. It consists of two opposed half hitches made successively around an object. It is most effective used as a crossing knot. Although it can be used as a binding knot, it is not particularly secure in that role. A.^[1]

Learning

The number of books, websites, videos, and other resources about knots attests to their interest and value. While some people can look at diagrams or photos and tie the illustrated knots, others learn best by watching how a knot is tied. Knot tying skills are often transmitted by sailors A sailor, mariner, or seaman is a person who navigates water-borne vessels or assists in their operation, maintenance, or service. The term can apply to professional mariners, military personnel, and recreational sailors as well as a plethora of other uses. Etymologically, the name preserves the memory of the time when ships were commonly powered, scouts Scouting, also known as the Scout Movement, is a worldwide youth movement with the stated aim of supporting young people in their physical, mental and spiritual development, so that they may play constructive roles in society, climbers Climbing is the activity of using one's hands and feet to ascend a steep object. It is done both for recreation (to reach an inaccessible place, or for its own enjoyment) and professionally, as part of activities such as maintenance of a structure, or military operations, cavers Caving—also known as spelunking by some in the United States and occasionally potholing in the United Kingdom—is the recreational pastime of exploring wild cave systems. In contrast, speleology is the scientific study of caves and the cave environment, arborists An arborist, or arboriculturalist, is a professional in the practice of arboriculture, which is the cultivation, management, and study of individual trees, shrubs, vines, and other perennial woody plants. Arborists generally focus on the health and safety of individual plants and trees, rather than managing forests (the domains of Forestry and, rescue professionals Firefighters, often colloquially called firemen, are rescuers extensively trained primarily to put out hazardous fires that threaten civilian populations and property, to rescue people from car incidents, collapsed and burning buildings and other such situations. The increasing complexity of modern industrialized life with an increase in the scale, fishermen A fisherman or fisher is someone who captures fish and other animals from a body of water, or gathers shellfish. Worldwide, there are about 38 million commercial and subsistence fishermen and fish farmers. The term can also be applied to recreational fishermen and may be used to describe both men and women. Fishing has existed as a means of, and surgeons Minimally invasive procedures such as the procedures of interventional radiology are sometimes described as "minimally invasive surgery." The field traditionally described as interventional neuroradiology, for instance, is increasingly called neurointerventional surgery. After one has mastered a few basic knots, diagrams and pictures become easier to interpret. As one learns more knots, one starts to discern patterns in their structure and tying method. Learning knots demands practice and patience.

Applications

Knots are essential in many industries, hobbies and domestic activities. Even simple activities such as running a load from the hardware store to home can turn into disaster if a clumsy twist in a cord passes for a knot. Truckers in need of securing a load may use a trucker's hitch The trucker's hitch, also known as the power cinch, is a self-binding knot commonly used for securing loads on trucks or trailers, gaining mechanical advantage In physics and engineering, mechanical advantage is the factor by which a mechanism multiplies the force or torque applied to it. Generally, the mechanical advantage is defined as follows:. Knots can save a spelunker from finding himself buried under rock. Learning well-tested knots prior to engaging in hazardous activities such as sailing Sailing is the art of controlling a boat with large foils called sails. By changing the rigging, rudder, and sometimes the keel or centre board, a sailor manages the force of the wind on the sails in order to change the direction and speed of a boat. Mastery of the skill requires experience in varying wind and sea conditions, as well as knowledge or rock-climbing Climbing is the activity of using one's hands and feet to ascend a steep object. It is done both for recreation (to reach an inaccessible place, or for its own enjoyment) and professionally, as part of activities such as maintenance of a structure, or military operations is a critical safety measure.

Knots can be applied in combination to produce complex objects such as lanyards A lanyard is a rope or cord often worn around the neck or wrist to carry something. Usually it is used where there is a risk of losing the object or to ensure it is visible at all times. Aboard ship, it may refer to a piece of rigging used to secure objects. Alternatively it is a length of cord or wire with a hook at the end used to fire an and netting Net or netting is any textile in which the warp and weft yarns are looped or knotted at their intersections, resulting in a fabric with large open spaces between the yarns. In ropework Ropework or Marlinespike Seamanship is the set of processes and skills used to make, repair, and use rope. This includes tying knots, splicing, making lashings, and proper use and storage of rope. In the age of sail the skill of a sailor was often judged by how well he knew knots and marlinespike seamanship, the frayed end of a rope is held together by a type of knot called a whipping knot A whipping knot or whipping is a binding of twine around the end of a rope to prevent the fibres of the rope from unravelling. Many types of textiles A textile is a flexible material consisting of a network of natural or artificial fibres often referred to as thread or yarn. Yarn is produced by spinning raw wool fibres, linen, cotton, or other material on a spinning wheel to produce long strands. Textiles are formed by weaving, knitting, crocheting, knotting, or pressing fibres together use knots to repair damage. Macrame Macramé or macrame is a form of textile-making using knotting rather than weaving or knitting. Its primary knots are the square knot and forms of hitching . It has been used by sailors, especially in elaborate or ornamental knotting forms to decorate anything from knife handles to bottles to parts of ships, one kind of textile, is generated exclusively through the use of knotting, instead of knits Knitting is a method by which thread or yarn may be turned into cloth or other fine crafts. Knitting consists of consecutive loops, called stitches. As each row progresses, a new loop is pulled through an existing loop. The active stitches are held on a needle until another loop can be passed through them. This process eventually results in a, crochets, weaves or felting. Macramé can produce self-supporting three dimensional textile structures, as well as flat work, and is often used ornamentally or decoratively.

Properties

Strength

Knots invariably weaken the rope in which they are made. When knotted rope is strained to its breaking point, it almost always fails at the knot or close to it, unless it is defective or damaged elsewhere. The bending, crushing, and chafing forces that hold a knot in place also unevenly stress rope fibers and ultimately lead to a reduction in strength. The exact mechanisms that cause the weakening and failure are complex and are the subject of continued study.

"Relative knot strength," also called knot efficiency, is the breaking strength of a knotted rope in proportion to the breaking strength of the rope without the knot. Determining this number is hard because many factors can affect a knot efficiency test: the type of fiber Fiber, also spelled fibre, is a class of materials that are continuous filaments or are in discrete elongated pieces, similar to lengths of thread. They are very important in the biology of both plants and animals, for holding tissues together. Human uses for fibers are diverse. They can be spun into filaments, string or rope, used as a component, the style of rope A rope is a length of fibres, twisted or braided together to improve strength for pulling and connecting. It has tensile strength but is too flexible to provide compressive strength . Rope is thicker and stronger than similarly constructed cord, line, string, and twine, the size of rope, whether it is wet or dry, how the knot is dressed before loading, how fast the knot is loaded, whether the knot is repeatedly loaded, and so on. Most common knots' efficiency range between forty and eighty percent.

While some rope splices can nearly maintain the rope's full strength, in most situations, when forming loops and bends conventional knots are far more practical. Thus the prudent knot user will always allow for a large safety margin Factor of safety is a term describing the structural capacity of a system beyond the applied loads or actual loads. There are two distinct uses of the Factor of Safety: One as a calculated ratio of strength (structural capacity) to actual applied load. This is a measure of the reliability of a particular design. The other use of FoS is a constant in the strength of rope chosen for a task due to the weakening effects of knots, aging, damage, shock loading, etc. In general, the safe working load is often specified as between 10% and 20% of the rated breaking strength of the rope being used.[1] For life-threatening applications, many other factors come into play which are beyond the current scope of this article. Experienced practitioners should always be consulted before using ropes and knots when safety of life, limb, or property is involved.

Security

Even if the rope does not break, a knot may still fail to hold. Knots that hold firm under a variety of adverse conditions are said to be more secure than those that do not. The main ways knots fail to hold are:

Slipping

The load creates tension that pulls the rope back through the knot in the direction of the load. If this continues far enough, the working end passes into the knot and the knot unravels and fails. This behavior can worsen when the knot is repeatedly strained and let slack, dragged over rough terrain, or repeatedly struck against hard objects such as a masts The mast of a sailing ship is a tall, vertical, or near vertical, spar, or arrangement of spars, which supports the sails. Large ships have several masts, with the size and configuration depending on the style of ship and flagpoles A flag is a piece of fabric, often flown from a pole or mast, generally used symbolically for signalling or identification. It is most commonly used to symbolize a country. The term flag is also used to refer to the graphic design employed by a flag, or to its depiction in another medium.

Even with secure knots, some slippage may take place as the knot is first put under real tension. This risk can be mitigated by leaving plenty of rope at the working end outside of the knot, and by dressing the knot cleanly and tightening it as fully as possible before loading. Sometimes, the use of a stopper knot or, even better, a backup knot can prevent the working end from passing through the knot; but if a knot is observed to slip, it is generally preferable to use a more secure knot. In life critical uses, backup knots are often added to already secure knots in order to maximize safety.

Capsizing

Capsizing (or spilling) a knot refers to changing a knot's form and rearranging its parts, usually by pulling on specific ends in certain ways. When used inappropriately, some knots tend to capsize easily or even spontaneously. Often the capsized form of the knot offers little resistance to slipping or unraveling. For an excellent example of a knot that capsizes dangerously, see the discussion of the reef knot used as a bend The reef knot or square knot is an ancient and simple binding knot used to secure a rope or line around an object. Although the reef knot is often seen used for tying two ropes together, it is not recommended for this purpose due to potential instability of the knot.

Sometimes a knot is intentionally capsized as a method of tying another knot, as with the "lightning method" The bowline is an ancient and simple knot used to form a fixed loop at the end of a rope. It has the virtues of being both easy to tie and untie. Although generally considered a reliable knot, its main deficiencies are a tendency to work loose when not under load and the bight portion of the knot to capsize in certain circumstances.[citation of tying a Bowline. Some knots, such as the Carrick Bend, are generally tied in one form then capsized to obtain a stronger or more stable form.

Sliding

In knots that are meant to grip other objects, failure can be defined as the knot moving relative to the gripped object. While the knot itself does not fail, it ceases to perform the desired function. For instance, a simple Rolling Hitch The Rolling hitch is a knot used to attach a rope to a rod, pole, or other rope. A simple friction hitch, it is used for lengthwise pull along an object rather than at right angles. The Rolling hitch is designed to resist lengthwise movement for only a single direction of pull tied around a railing and pulled parallel to the railing might hold up to a certain tension, then start sliding. Sometimes this problem can be corrected by working-up the knot tighter before subjecting it to load, but usually the problem requires either a knot with more wraps or a rope of different diameter or material.

Components

Bight

The center part of a length of rope, string, or yarn—in opposition to the rope's ends.

• A "bight" is any curved section, slack part, or loop between the ends of a rope.
• The phrase "in the bight" implies that a U-shaped section of rope is used in making a knot. Many knots can be tied either with the end or in the bight.

Bitter end

More a ropeworker's term than a knot term, it refers to the end of a rope that is tied off, hence the expression "hanging on to the bitter end". A bitt is a metal block with a crosspin used for tying lines to, found on docks. In fact the bitter end is the end of the Anchor "Cable" that connects to the Anchor Bitts in the cable locker under the forecastle or poop using the bitter pin. (British nautical usage). Other uses may be borrowed from this derivation.

Loop

A full circle formed by passing the working end over itself. Note that the term 'loop' is also used to refer to a category of knots (see 'Categories' below).

Elbow

Two crossing points created by an extra twist in a loop.

Standing end

The end of the rope not involved in making the knot, often shown as unfinished.

Standing part

Section of line between knot and the standing end (seen above).

Turn

• A turn or single turn is a single pass behind or through an object.
• A round turn is the complete encirclement of an object; requires two passes.
• Two round turns circles the object twice; requires three passes.

Working end

The active end of a line used in making the knot. May also be called the 'running end', 'live end', or 'tag end'.

Working part

Section of line between knot and the working end.

Categories

The list of knots This list of knots includes many alternate names for common knots. Knot names have evolved over time and there are many conflicting or confusing naming issues. The overhand knot, for example, is also known as the thumb knot. The figure-of-eight knot is also known as the savoy knot or the Flemish knot is extensive, but common properties allow for a useful system of categorization. For example, loop knots share the attribute of having some kind of an anchor point constructed on the standing end (such as a loop or overhand knot) into which the working end is easily hitched to using a round turn. An example of this is the bowline The bowline is an ancient and simple knot used to form a fixed loop at the end of a rope. It has the virtues of being both easy to tie and untie. Although generally considered a reliable knot, its main deficiencies are a tendency to work loose when not under load and the bight portion of the knot to capsize in certain circumstances.[citation. Constricting knots often rely on friction to cinch down tight on loose bundles; an example is the Miller's knot. Knots may belong to more than one category.

Bend

A knot uniting two lines (for knots joining two ends of the same line, see binding knots or loops). List of bends This is a list of types of bend knots. A bend knot is a knot used to join two lengths of rope. Although the reef knot can be used in this way, it is insecure when used as a bend and so is not classed as one.

Binding

A knot that restricts object(s) by making multiple winds. List of binding knots.

Coil A coil is a series of loops. A coiled coil is a structure where the coil itself is in turn also looping, these objects can are used commonly and are very important, some of their jobs my be in bikes, cars trains and planes. Often used in conjunction with a thread

Knots used to tie up lines for storage. List of coil knots. Another handy coil is here.

Decorative knot

A complex knot exhibiting repeating patterns often constructed around and enhancing an object. List of decorative knots.

Hitch

A knot tied to a post, cable, ring, or spar. List of hitch knots.

Lashing A lashing is an arrangement of rope used to secure two or more items together in a somewhat rigid manner. Lashings are most commonly applied to timber poles, and are commonly associated with the scouting movement and with sailors

A knot used to hold (usually) poles together. List of lashing knots.

Loop

A knot used to create a closed circle in a line. List of loop knots.

Plait A braid is a complex structure or pattern formed by intertwining three or more strands of flexible material such as textile fibres, wire, or human hair. Compared to the process of weaving a wide sheet of cloth from two separate, perpendicular groups of strands (warp and weft), a braid is usually long and narrow, with each component strand (or Braid)

A number of lines interwoven in a simple regular pattern. List of plait knots.

Slip A slip knot is one of two different classes of knot. The most common are knots which attach a line to an object and tighten when tension is applied to the free end of the line. The other is a type of knot designed to bind one end of a rope to the middle of another, while allowing the knot to slide along the rope (or Running)

A knot tied with a hitch around one of its parts. In contrast, a loop is closed with a bend. While a slip knot can be closed, a loop remains the same size. List of slip knots.

Seizing Seizings are a class of knots used to semi-permanently bind together two ropes, two parts of the same rope, or rope and another object. Akin to lashings, they use string or small-stuff to produce friction and leverage to immobilize larger ropes. Seizings are not recommended for heavy loads

A knot used to hold two lines or two parts of the same line together. List of seizing knots.

Sennit

A number of lines interwoven in a complex pattern. List of sennit knots.

Splice

A knot formed by interweaving strands of rope rather than whole lines. More time-consuming but usually stronger than simple knots. List of splices.

Stopper

A knot tied to hold a line through a hole. List of stopper knots.

Trick

A knot that is used as part of a magic trick, a joke, or a puzzle. List of trick knots.

Whipping A whipping knot or whipping is a binding of twine around the end of a rope to prevent the fibres of the rope from unravelling

A binding knot used to prevent another line from fraying.

Basic useful knots

• Bowline The bowline is an ancient and simple knot used to form a fixed loop at the end of a rope. It has the virtues of being both easy to tie and untie. Although generally considered a reliable knot, its main deficiencies are a tendency to work loose when not under load and the bight portion of the knot to capsize in certain circumstances.[citation for tying a loop in the end of a rope, as around one's waist or to secure a ring or grommet
• Sheet bend The Sheet bend is a bend that joins two ropes together. Doubled, it is effective in binding lines of different diameter or rigidity securely together for tying the ends of two similar sized ropes together
• Double sheet bend The Sheet bend is a bend that joins two ropes together. Doubled, it is effective in binding lines of different diameter or rigidity securely together for tying the ends of two dissimilarly sized ropes together
• Water knot for tying a knot in flat material such as nylon webbing
• Buntline hitch for tying a rope to a pole
• Timber hitch for securing or hauling long narrow loads
• Rolling hitch for securing a rope to a pole, or one rope to the middle of another
• Taut-line hitch for forming an adjustable loop that keeps its size under tension
• Trucker's hitch for clinching down a load
• Constrictor knot for making bundles or cinching the neck of a sack
• Alpine butterfly knot for a secure loop in the middle of a rope when the ends aren't free
• Prusik for ascending a rope
• Diamond hitch for packing trail animals
• Figure-of-eight knot as a stopper
• Spanish bowline Used to hoist crewmen aloft or suspend them over the side
• Midshipman's Hitch (also known as a Taut-line Hitch, above)
• Monkey's fist used to haul a heavier rope
• Versatackle hoist heavy loads and tighten rigging

Knot theory

Knot theory is a branch of topology. It deals with the mathematical analysis of knots, their structure and properties, and with the relationships between different knots. In topology, a knot is a figure consisting of a single loop, abstracted from any physical rope or line, with any number of crossing or "knotted" elements. As such, it has no proper ends, and cannot be undone or untied. Various mathematical techniques are used to classify and distinguish knots. For instance, the Alexander polynomial can be used to distinguish the trefoil knot from the figure-of-eight knot and the unknot (a simple loop).

See also

• List of knots
• Knot (mathematics)
• Quipu
• Chinese knotting

References

Footnotes

1. ^ Cassidy 1985, The Klutz Book of Knots

Notations

• Clifford W. Ashley. The Ashley Book of Knots. Doubleday, New York. ISBN 0-385-04025-3
• Geoffrey Budworth (1999). The Ultimate Encyclopedia of Knots & Ropework. Annes Publishing Limited. ISBN 1-55267-986-1
• John Cassidy (1985). The Klutz Book of Knots. Klutz Press, Palo Alto, California. ISBN 0-932592-10-4
• Cyrus L. Day. Knots & Splices. International Marine/McGraw-Hill Companies. ISBN 0-87742-252-4
• Raoul Graumont. Handbook of Knots. Cornell Maritime Press/Tidewater Publishers. ISBN 0-87033-030-6
• R.S. Lee. All The Knots You Need. Algrove Publishing. ISBN 0-921335-47-4
• Allen Padgett and Bruce Smith. On Rope. National Speleological Society. ISBN 0-9615093-2-5
• Des Pawson (2001). Pocket Guide to Knots & Splices. Produced for Propsero Books by RPC Publishing Ltd., London. ISBN 1-55267-218-2
• Brion Toss. The Complete Rigger's Apprentice. International Marine/McGraw-Hill Companies. ISBN 0-07-064840-9
• J.C. Turner and P. van de Griend (ed.) (1996). History and Science of Knots. World Scientific. ISBN 981-02-2469-9

External links

• Knots at the Open Directory Project

Categories: Knots | Ropework | Sailing | Scoutcraft | Survival skills

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