Standing Rigging Tension Calculator

Inputs

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Minimum breaking strength from the exact wire and terminal manufacturer.
lbf
Target standing rigging tension as a percent of selected wire breaking strength.
% MBS
Measured current tension from a calibrated gauge or another trusted method.
lbf
Approximate straight wire span used for stiffness and elastic stretch.
ft
Nominal standing rigging wire diameter.
in
Effective axial modulus for the wire construction. Stainless wire rope is commonly below solid-bar stiffness.
Mpsi
Approximate fraction of solid round area occupied by metal in the strand construction.
Linear take-up per threaded end per turn. A 20 TPI thread is 0.050 in per turn per end.
in
Positive turns shorten/increase tension in this screen; negative turns loosen.
turns
Most turnbuckles move both threaded ends when the body is turned; single-end adjustment moves one end.

Results

Default result
Edit inputs
Target tension
750lbf
Pass

selected breaking strength times target percent

Also computed

Measured tensionPass650lbf

Target minus measuredCaution100lbf

positive means add tension by shortening the rigging

Required take-up0.03548in

positive means shorten; negative means lengthen

Required turnsCaution0.3548turns

turns needed to reach the target with the entered pitch and moving ends

Entered turnbuckle take-up0.035in

entered turns times pitch times moving threaded ends

Entered tension change98.64lbf

Standing rigging tension previewStanding rigging tension previewTarget tension, measured tension and turnbuckle take-up are screened from wire stiffness.target750 lbfmeasured650 lbfpredicted after entered turns749 lbfturns to target0.35Screen only. Loos gauge calibration, terminals, spreaders, mast compression, chainplates, fatigue and corrosion require qualified rigging review.
Method notes 4 notes
  • Target tension = selected breaking strength * target percent / 100.
  • Wire stiffness uses k = E*A/L, with A estimated from nominal wire diameter and metallic area factor.
  • Turnbuckle take-up uses pitch * turns * moving threaded ends. Verify thread pitch, handedness, thread engagement and actual hardware before adjusting.
  • Standing rigging is safety-critical. Gauge calibration, wire construction, terminals, spreaders, mast compression, chainplates, fatigue, corrosion, dynamic loads and final tune require qualified rigger, surveyor, designer and manufacturer guidance.

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