pendentive

(noun)

The concave triangular sections of vaulting that provide the transition between a dome and the square base on which it is set and transfer the weight of the dome.

Related Terms

Examples of pendentive in the following topics:

  • Arches and Domes

    • Pendentives are triangular sections of a sphere used to transition from the flat surfaces of supporting walls to the round base of a dome.
    • Simple domes use pendentives that are part of the same sphere as the dome itself.
    • A compound dome (red) with pendentives (yellow) from a sphere of greater radius than the dome.