Guy-wire

A guy-wire or guy-rope, also known as simply a guy, is a tensioned cable designed to add stability to a free-standing structure. They are used commonly on ship masts, radio masts, wind turbines, utility poles, and tents. One end of the cable is attached to the structure, and the other is anchored to the ground at a distance from the structure's base. The tension in the diagonal guy-wire, combined with the compressional strength of the structure, allows the structure to withstand lateral loads such as wind or the weight of cantilevered structures. They are often installed radially, at equal angles about the structure, in trios and quads. This allows the tension of each guy-wire to offset the others. For example, antenna masts are often held up by three guy-wires at 120° angles. Structures with lateral loads, such as electrical utility poles, may require only a single guy-wire to offset the lateral pull of the electrical wires.