Cabling, Bracing, and Support Flashcards
7 cards from real CATS practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Cabling, Bracing, and Support flashcards as text
What is the purpose of using a thimble in a cable assembly?
Answer: To protect the cable loop from wear where it contacts hardware
A thimble is a grooved metal insert that protects the loop of a cable at the attachment point, preventing the sharp bend from fatiguing and fraying the wire strands.
Which of the following best describes the concept of 'zone of rapid taper' and its relevance to support systems?
Answer: The section of a branch or trunk that thickens most quickly with movement, indicating where dynamic loads are highest
The zone of rapid taper identifies where mechanical stress causes the most active wood growth, which also indicates the sections most critical to assess when placing supplemental support hardware.
If a client requests that a cabling system be installed primarily for aesthetic reasons on a structurally sound tree, the arborist should:
Answer: Explain the costs, limited benefits, and potential for hardware embedment over time
Arborists should provide informed consent by explaining that cabling a structurally sound tree offers minimal benefit and introduces long-term hardware management obligations.
What does the term 'SWL' stand for in the context of cabling hardware selection?
Answer: Safe Working Load
SWL (Safe Working Load) is the maximum load a piece of hardware should bear in service, which must exceed the anticipated forces on the cabling system.
When installing a brace rod through two stems, drilling should be performed:
Answer: Perpendicular to the plane of the crack to maximize resistance to splitting
Drilling perpendicular to the crack plane ensures the rod resists the splitting force most effectively, as it crosses the line of potential failure at a right angle.
A 'failure mode analysis' prior to cabling involves:
Answer: Predicting how and where the tree is most likely to fail without intervention
Failure mode analysis identifies the most probable type and location of structural failure, which guides the design and placement of the supplemental support system.
Which environmental condition in the Albuquerque region most increases the urgency of inspecting cabling hardware?
Answer: Low humidity and temperature swings causing wood shrinkage that can loosen hardware
Albuquerque's arid climate with significant temperature fluctuations causes wood expansion and contraction cycles that can loosen hardware and alter cable tension over time.