Abstract: A method of determining the tension in a guy wire or other flexible member. The first 15 natural frequencies for the design tension and tensions at 1 percent increments above and below the design tension are calculated. The actual first 15 natural frequencies are then determined, and the tension in the wire is the one whose calculated frequencies are most similar to the actual frequencies. The method is sensitive enough to use the wind to excite the wire or it can be manually struck to produce vibrations.

Abstract: A sensing device and an analyis process which determines the shape of the periphery of a cross-section of a body as it deforms or is defomed in time. The sensing device is a band attached to the surface of the deformable body along the external peripheral path of the desired geometrical cross-section; the band has sensing devices on it, each of which produces an output proportional to local curvature as the band is deformed. The analysis process integrates the outputs from the sensing devices to calculate the shape of the periphery of a cross-section of the body to which the band is attached.