Geometrical Nonlinear Analysis of Tensegrity Based on a Co-Rotational Method

Abstract

Tensegrities are structures whose integrity is based on a balance between tension and compression. A numerical procedure is presented for the geometrical nonlinear analysis of tensegrity structures. This approach is based on a co-rotational method where the major component of geometrical non-linearity is treated by a co-rotational filter. This is achieved by separating rigid body motions from deformational displacements. The outcomes evince that the efficiency of the co-rotational approach is considerably greater than those using total Lagrangian and updated Lagrangian formulations for space rod elements, which have more rigid body movement modes than deformational modes. Numerical examples illustrate that the displacements of tensegrity systems depend on the applied force density coefficient and external loading values. Furthermore, in the analysis of tensegrity structures, constraints such as the yield strength of all elements and zero stiffness of string elements becoming slack at any equilibrium configuration must be allowed for.