Diversification;
The BEA have used 36g to describe the Rudder Vertical Load Arm fracture point. The relevant text from Interim Report #2 states:-
1.12.3.5.4 Examination of the vertical stabiliser – rudder attachments
The vertical load pick-up arm in the rudder’s hinge axis (arm 36 g) broke at the
level of the attachment lug on the rudder side.
The size of this arm is calculated to withstand a maximum load of 120,000 N, corresponding to a relative acceleration of 36 g of the rudder in relation to the vertical stabilizer.
Clearly, it is an unfortunate use of "36g" as a name, but the text is quite clear on how the acceleration of 36g was derived, i.e.the the vertical movement between the V/S, along the hinge axis, and the Rudder had an acceleration of 36 times the force of gravity at the fail point.
EDIT
Well, having made a fool of myself in misinterpreting the BEA's statement above, I decided to go and get an independent translation by a person born in the UK, educated both there and in France, and who has lived in France for over 40 years. Their translation of the offending sentence. i.e.
The size of this arm is calculated to withstand a maximum load of 120,000 N,
corresponding to a relative acceleration of 36 g of the rudder in relation to the
vertical stabilizer.
finishes up using succinct English words in place of the arrays often used in French, and the result is:-
Ce bras est dimensionné par calcul pour résister à un effort maximal d’environ 120 000 N, correspondant à une accélération relative de 36 g de la gouverne de direction par rapport à la dérive.
'Arm 36 g' is designed to withstand a maximum load of 120,000 N, corresponding to a relative acceleration of the arm by the rudder in relation to the vertical stabilizer.
The ambiguity has been nicely removed.
mm43