bracing

bracing

[′brās·iŋ]

(engineering)

The act or process of strengthening or making rigid.

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific & Technical Terms, 6E, Copyright © 2003 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

bracing

1. Structural elements installed to provide restraint or support (or both) to other members, so that the complete assembly forms a stable structure; may consist of knee braces, cables, rods, struts, ties, shores, diaphragms, rigid frames, etc., singly or in combination.

2. Collectively, the braces so used.

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Architecture and Construction. Copyright © 2003 by McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

bracing

Examples of bracing on a biplane.

The supporting struts and wires used in the strengthening of the structure. Each set of wires serves a particular purpose. Flying or lift wires prevent the wings from folding up during flight; landing wires prevent the wing from sagging while the aircraft is on the ground, and incidence wires maintain the wings at their correct angle of incidence.

An Illustrated Dictionary of Aviation Copyright © 2005 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved