What is heavy duty shock cord, and what are its uses?

Shock cords are highly versatile pieces of equipment, widely used across a variety of industries for securing, fastening, and absorbing tension. With decades of experience to our name here at Ibex Marina Ropes, we supply a range of different types of shock cords for specific applications – and heavy duty shock cords make up an integral part of that range.

Designed for particularly demanding applications, heavy duty shock cords are distinguishable by their superior strength, durability, and resilience. Those qualities make it ideal for performing in particularly intensive environments, or withstanding repeated loads that might strain the limits of other types of shock cord. As you can imagine, these abilities make it a useful asset to an extensive array of sectors. Below, we examine a sample of its many uses.

What is heavy duty shock cord?

A heavy duty shock cord is essentially a higher-performing version of standard shock cord, made for environments where additional strength and resilience are required. Like all shock cords, heavy shock cords consist of an elastic core wrapped in 2 protective outer sheaths, manufactured to withstand greater forces and harsher conditions.

One key factor in its construction is tensile strength; heavy duty shock cords are engineered to stretch and return to their original shape whilst maintaining elasticity over time. This prevents sagging or failure under significant loads, making it a reliable choice for high-stress applications. The outer layer is designed to resist abrasion, moisture, and UV damage, ensuring longevity even in harsh environments (such as those often found in the marine sector).

Elasticity also plays a crucial role in its performance. The cord’s ability to absorb shock and distribute tension evenly makes it ideal for securing equipment, minimising strain on fastenings, and maintaining stability under fluctuating forces. This elasticity makes heavy duty shock cords indispensable in situations where reliability is non-negotiable.

What materials are used in making heavy duty shock cords?

As we have briefly covered above, the construction of a heavy duty shock cord is one of the main elements that sets it apart from standard varieties. The core is made from high-grade natural rubber, providing the necessary stretch and recoil. The quality and thread count of this core determine the cord’s overall strength and durability.

The outer sheath is just as important. Heavy duty shock cords are often wrapped in a high-strength braided polyester or cotton jacket. These materials are chosen for their resistance to wear, UV degradation, and environmental exposure. Polyester sheaths are particularly valued for their durability, and offer excellent resistance to moisture, making them suitable for marine applications.

In some cases, specialist coatings are applied to enhance abrasion resistance. This additional layer of protection helps maintain elasticity and strength even when exposed to extreme temperatures, chemicals, or repeated use.

A brief look at some of the key sectors that use heavy shock cord

As we have discussed above, heavy duty shock cords are widely used in industries that demand strength, elasticity, and resilience under extreme conditions. Its ability to withstand stretching and repeated stress makes it essential in a range of specialist applications.

Marine applications

Some of the marine applications for our own heavy shock cords at Ibex Marina Ropes include their usage on towed seismic streamers, which are deployed behind survey vessels to collect geophysical data for underwater exploration. These streamers must maintain precise positioning while absorbing movement caused by ocean currents, and our heavy shock cords enable them to remain stable and operational over long distances.

Similarly, in Marine Evacuation Systems (MES), shock cords play a vital role in deploying inflatable slides and liferafts rapidly and reliably during emergencies, facilitating safe evacuation from ships and offshore platforms. It is also used in dockside gantry crane conveyor dampers, where it absorbs impact forces, minimises vibrations, and enhances the stability of machinery in busy port environments.

Heavy duty shock cords are used in submersible equipment retrieval, helping to manage controlled ascent speeds for underwater survey tools and remotely operated vehicles (ROVs).

Aerospace and military

The tensile strength of shock cords give them particular utility in the civilian and military aerospace sectors, both of which rely on heavy duty shock cords in systems that require controlled energy release and impact absorption.

For example, heavy duty shock cords are used in systems like target drone catapult launchers, where it provides the high-tension energy needed to propel unmanned aerial targets into flight for military training exercises.

Moving to the actual interior of aircraft now, heavy duty shock cords play a role in pilot and co-pilot seating systems, providing additional cushioning and impact resistance to enhance crew safety and comfort. They are even used in runway overrun arrestor systems, where their elasticity helps bring aircraft to a controlled stop in emergency landing situations – effectively reducing the risk of damage and injury.

Helicopter rotor blade restraint systems utilise them to secure blades when aircraft are parked, preventing unnecessary movement and damage in high-wind conditions. They are also used in aircraft landing gear safety locks, ensuring that gear remains secured during maintenance and ground operations.

Leisure and adventure

These industries use heavy duty shock cords in extreme sports and high-adrenaline activities. In zip line emergency braking systems, they provide controlled deceleration for riders, absorbing impact forces and ensuring a smooth stop at the end of the descent. Notably, in at least one instance they have also used in a “human slingshot”, where participants are secured in a harness before being catapulted at high speeds using the stored energy of stretched shock cords.

Heavy shock cords also comprise a key element in bungee-assisted training systems used in gymnastics, acrobatics, and free-running, where they help athletes practise dynamic movements with reduced impact.

This is not an exhaustive list, but intended to provide useful insight into the capabilities and applications of heavy shock cords. If you have any further questions, or need any advice about the suitability of heavy shock cords for your intended application, feel free to get in touch with our team here at Ibex Marina Ropes. You can reach us through our contact page, or give us a call on 01706 360 363. Our expert team is always happy to help!