In reply to XXXX:
> Two krabs lieing on top of each other have large compressive force placed on them. Could cause point loading on the lower krab, bending of the top krab over the bottom for example. Gates could be damaged. If I could lay all the items down next to each other and drive over them I might accept that as a risk. The way my rack sits I'd anticipate all sorts of cross loading, twisting and bending through all the metal components. All of the fabric we trust is vulnerable to crushing although I guess that would be more obvious.
If it's bent it's bent, you can inspect and decide to get rid or make a judgement.
If it has bent but sprung back and it still works then you've applied one load cycle below the elastic limit of the material. Not that exceeding the elastic limit is automatically harmful, these things are of course bent from round stock initially albeit prior to forging and heat treatment. How the bending loads are applied is largely irrelevant.
Out of curiosity, would you bin a krab that got loaded over an edge but wasn't discernibly deformed and still opened/closed properly?
If fabric is cut, torn or otherwise visibly damaged then fine, get rid. The idea it would still after that sorting be harboring invisible 'crushing' damage I find a bit OTT.
> Maybe my experience of industrial climbing and the associated safety culture has made me soft. Who knows.
Maybe indeed, only you would know.
jk