Braid

To braid is to interweave or twine three or more separate strands of one or more materials in a diagonally overlapping pattern. The word is used in many contexts:

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Braids are studied mathematically in braid theory, a special field of knot theory.

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As a noun, braid refers to any object created by such weaving, particularly if it remains in a strand or rope-like configuration. Simple braids with more than three strands can be flat or tubular and generally contain an odd number of strands. Complex braids have been used to create hanging fiber artworks.

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Braiding of fiber yarn creates a strand or rope that is thicker and stronger than the strands would have been separately. Braided ropes are preferred by arborists and rock climbers because they do not twist under load, as does an ordinary twisted-strand rope. These ropes consist of one or more concentric tubular braided jackets surrounding a single untwisted yarn of straight fibers. See also Plait.

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As a verb, the term refers to the process of creating a braid, either a real one, as in braiding one's hair (see French braid), or a metaphorical braiding such as He braided the many different ideas into a new whole.

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In some river and stream systems, small streams join together and redivide in many places. Such stream systems are said to be braided. These are often found in alluvial fans at the outlet of canyons. This is a result of heavy sediment deposition at high flows followed by re-erosion at low flows. See also delta.

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In fiber optics and electrical and electronic cables, braid is a tubular sheath made of braided strands of metal placed around a central cable for mechanical protection or grounding purposes. Such braids are also used after flattening for bonding large components together. The numerous smaller wires comprising the braid are much more resistant to cracking under repeated motion and vibration than is a cable of larger wires.

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Similar braiding is used on pressurised rubber hoses, e.g. in plumbing and hydraulic brake systems in automobiles.

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Braiding is also used for fibres for composite reninforcements.

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Mathematically: REDIRECT Mathematics...

Braid theory: In topology, braid theory is an abstract geometric theory studying the everyday braid concept, and some generalisations. The idea is that braids can be organised into groups, in which the group operation is 'do the first braid on a set of strings, and then follow it with a second on the twisted stri...

Knot theory: Knot theory is a branch of topology inspired by observations, as the name suggests, of knots. But progress in the field does not depend exclusively on experiments with twine. Knot theory concerns itself with abstract properties of theoretical knots — the spatial arrangements that in principle ...

Braid related Images and Photos (experimental)

(Ltor) John Henry Taylor (1871-1963) James Braid (1870-1950) and Harry Vardon (1870-1937)	Star Trek: TOS 1st Season Commander Rank Braid Set	Star Trek Original Series Captain Unifrom Rank Braid	Star Trek Original Series Commander Unifrom Rank Braid
Star Trek Original Series Lieutenant Unifrom Rank Braid	Star Trek Original Series Lt. Commander Unifrom Rank Braid