Dave
Lang is the father of AWE tether science, having pioneered AE
theoretic, simulated, and tested tethers during his long career, over
many years challenging AWE researchers to look deeper. His involvement
with actual Space Tethers and forward-looking Space Elevators even
inspired new conceptual hybrids of the kite principle in planetary
science. In the last decade, open AWE also scours academic literature
and commercial sources for tether knowledge, especially in key high-TRL
applications like fishing, rigging, and related practices.
New
AWES tether conceptual frontiers emerged, such as sonic relativity in
long-line control inputs (variable c in tension-modulated tether), and
3D tether lattices on a vast scale. A profusion of tether types and
methods were rediscovered or newly invented. Advanced tethers range
from pure super-polymer at highest power-to-weight and lowest-drag, to
composite structure with diverse added functions. Below is an
incomplete list of tether types and concepts in raw-note form, awaiting
others to someday bring due order to the engineering classification of
the complex AWES tether space.
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Load Bearing Tether- eg. the common kite tether
Primary Load Tether- a line bearing the preponderance of a tensile load from a wing set.
Plain Tether- a single tensile material
Composite Tether- any combination of materials and construction for multiple functions
Conductive Tether- metallic electrical, RF coaxial, or salt-contaminated tether
Secondary Load Tether- leader, bridle, riser, killer, tagline, pendant, PTO (power-take-off), etc
Control Tether- steering line, trim-tether (AoA "brake" or D line), kill-tether, trip-line, etc
Lifter/Drougue/WECS Tethers- specific to basic AWES modules
Slack Tether- unloaded in nominal operation, perhaps as a backup or stop
Moving Loop Tether- rope-driving, payload transport XC and local pick-and-place
Pumping Tether- low-stretch oscillating load
Shock Tether- elastic, damped,
Snubber- a tensile shock absorber, often elastomer with backup rope
Stationary Anchor Tether- most common primary tether
Mobile Anchor Tether- drag-line, FF connecting tether
Horizontal Tether- (surface-tether, aloft-tether, (cableway, guide-cable)
Multi-Tether- identical tethers acting in parallel
Gangline- branching from a primary tether, a tether with multiple payload units along it
Star Tether- a multi-tether of shroud lines, lattice junctions, etc.
Chafing-Gear- ruggedized tether sections at bearing zones (capstans, pulleys)
Segmented Tether- serial tether segment
Graded Tether- serial tethers of progressive variance
Tether Lattice- 3D geometries
Cutting Tether- fighter kites, kill method
Dragline Tether- usually chain or wire rope; drags while creating a load for a kite to act against
Tether-Set- a group of tethers in the same AWES
Hot-Swappable Tether- the tether part of a system for changing lines without AWES interruption
Light-Air Tether- thinner and lighter section for weak wind
Working Tether- normal section for average or most-probable wind
Heavy-Air Tether- heavier and thicker section for strong gusty to storm conditions
Modular Tether- standard fixed length interchangeable units
Renewable Tether- fresh sections unrolled from storage reel as needed
Monofiliment Tether- previous state-of-the-art in polymer tethers; non-scalable
Twisted-strand Tether- right or left handed, with a varying torquing moment according to load; swivels commonly added
Braided Tether- no torquing by pumping, in its untwisted state
Cored-rope Tether- twisted or braided cover over a core of load bearing fibers; the outer layer protects the core
Heat Resistant Tether- in supposed descending order; tungsten, fiberglass, carbon-fiber, steel, kevlar, nylon
Chain Tether- made from small links, capable of indexing.
Ballast Tether- ie. anchor rode steel chain
Lightweight Tether- ie. floating UHMWPE or PP
Wire Rope- steel cable for heavy-duty surface operations
Natural Tether- hemp, flax, cotton, sisal, etc.
Artificial Tether- various polymers and metals
Water Tether- low absorption typical, undersea, all-weather
Beaded Tether, Toothed Tether- non-slip indexed (ie. timing belting)
Tapered Tether- smooth graduation
Coated Tether- electrical insulation, UV protection, abrasion protection, absorption reduction, color-coding,
Fiber-Optic Tether- normally composited with structural fibers
Long-line
Antenna Tether- normally composited with structural fibers or a
metallic tether with both strength and conductivity
Stoppered Tether- Cody used graduated rings and stoppers to sequence train launches.
"Flying-rope" Tether- Culp's idea of a self-flying tether as a soft-train made of many small lifting units
Variable
Mechanical Advantage Tethering- a tri-tether whose variable angles
manipulate the "rigger's triangle" (bow-string angles)
Rat-Tail Tether- wrapped on a long-line as needed to create a haul-end at any point
Spliced Tether- maximal strength line link joints
Knotted Tether- quick, often reversible, but weaker linking
Kite Tail- an extended kite drogue that is its own tether
Tow-line Tether- pulling loads XC
Rated Tether- tested for yield and failure numbers; derated according to logged and inspected wear
Guy-Line Tether- a bracing-line to stabilize a tensile structure along a given axis
