Glossary of Terms

Aperture: An opening or gap, contextually the size of the diamond-shaped space between stainless steel wires in tensile mesh.

Balustrade System: An arrangement of stainless steel cables or wires “in-filling” the space between uprights or stanchions to form a balustrade. The Ronstan ABS range of balustrade/railing cables is available in many material finishes, cable diameters and connective end options.

Breaking Load: or B.L., refers to the load at, or around which, a major failure can be expected to occur.

Catenary Lighting: A series of tensioned cables providing a stable platform for the suspension of electrical cables and luminaires over a space. View catenary lighting projects.

Catenary lighting installation in St. Petersburg, FL. ©Dirk Shadd

Deflection: Deflection is magnitude of displacement from one load condition to the next.

Design Life: The design life (or design service life) of a building, structure, or component, is the period of use as intended by the designer after which it may need to be replaced. Before this period has elapsed, it should remain fit for purpose. Not to be confused with warranty. The design life of a product generally far exceeds the warranty period.

Factor of Safety: The ratio of the B.L. of the product to the theoretical design load determined from structural analysis.  Minimum safety factors may be required by law or other regulations.

Greening System: A common term for trellis or espalier systems comprised of cables which provide essential support for climbing plants. The Ronstan AGS range of greening or trellis cables is available in many formats and configurations. The systems can be adapted to attach to many surfaces as the base structure providing support for climbing plants and vines.

Load Rated: Product with a published breaking load, B.L.

M.W.L: Maximum Working Load is the maximum static and/or dynamic load at which the product will still function without excessive friction, distortion, wear, or permanent deformation of components.

Railing System: As per balustrade system.  “Railing” is a common term for balustrade in North America.

Static vs. Dynamic Application: Static refers to an application with a constant and consistent load, whereas Dynamic refers to an application where the load might change due to external influence.

Structural Analysis: Engineering calculation to determine the theoretical response of structures due to applied loads.

Structural Cable System: A system of wire rope or strand and end connections forming a cable and used to transfer of load between two points.  The Ronstan ACS structural cable range is available in many material finishes, cable diameters and connective end options.

Structural Design Certification: a legal document to be signed by a suitably qualified and registered building practitioner/engineer that the design of the structure is in accordance with Australian and International Standards of Practice.  Certification requirements vary from state to state.

Structural Rod System: A system of rod or bar tendons and end connections used to transfer load between two points.  The Ronstan ARS structural rod system is available in many material finishes, bar diameters and connective end options.

Swaging: The process of pressing metal to change its shape. Contextually, this is a method of permanently attaching a wire to its termination. Two primary types of swaging are roll swaging and press swaging.

Tendon: A minimalist and aesthetic mechanism or tendon for the efficient transfer of load.

Tensegrity: A structure which is loaded entirely in compression or entirely in tension, resulting in a structure with no shear stresses.

Tensile Façade: A façade comprised of elements primarily supported on cables or bars tensioned in place to resist deflection. View Ronstan façade projects.

Tensile Mesh: A flexible stainless steel mesh formed by connecting individual wire ropes with stainless steel ferrules and which is held within a structure under tension. Ronstan is the exclusive distributor of Carl Stahl Xtend® Mesh in Australia and New Zealand. Carl Stahl’s Xtend® Mesh is the original tensile mesh.

Termination: An end fitting for wire rope or strand forms a cable and facilitates connection to a base structure.

Threaded terminals swaged to wire rope.

Threaded Terminal Adjuster: Similar to a turnbuckle, providing simple single thread adjustment.

Turnbuckle: a threaded device usually located at the end of a cable or rod that is used to adjust tendon length. More details here.

Wire Trellis: A permanent architectural structure that supports climbing plants and provides shade or privacy. A trellis usually sits against a wall as a single, flat, or latticed surface like an extension of a fence.

Ronstan Tensile Architecture
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