Abstract
Purpose This study aims to focus on a short review on recent results dealing with the mechanical modelling and experimental characterization of a novel class of tensegrity structures, named class θ = 1 tensegrity prisms. The examined structures exhibit six bars connected by two disjoint sets of strings. Design/methodology/approach First, the self-equilibrium problem of tensegrity θ = 1 prisms is numerically investigated for varying values of two aspect parameters and, next, their prestress stability is studied. The mechanical behavior of the examined structures in the large displacements regime under uniform compression loading is also numerically computed through a path-following procedure. Finally, the predicted constitutive response is validated through experimental tests. Findings The presented results highlight that the examined structures exhibit a large number of infinitesimal mechanisms from the freestanding configuration, and reveal that they exhibit tunable elastic response switching from stiffening to softening. Originality/value This multi-faceted elastic response is in agreement with previous literature results on the elastic response of minimal tensegrity prism, and suggests that such units can be usefully used as non-linear springs in next-generation tensegrity metamaterials.
Highlights
Over the past decade, the research area of tensegrity metamaterials has drawn significant interest due to their unconventional behaviors which are often impossible to be achieved with natural materials (Skelton and De Oliveira, 2010; Fraternali et al, 2012; Amendola et al, 2015; Skelton, 2002; Skelton and de Oliveira, 2010a; Skelton and de Oliveira, 2010b; Carpentieri et al, 2017; Skelton et al, 2014; Carpentieri et al, 2015)
We studied the existence of freestanding placements in absence of external loads, i.e. self-equilibrium configurations (Tilbert and Pellegrino, 2011) of the class u 1⁄4 1 tensegrity prisms by varying values of two aspect parameters: the relative twisting angle between the terminal bases and the inclination above the horizontal plan of the internal strings
We studied the self-equilibrium problem varying the value of two aspect parameters a and b
Summary
The research area of tensegrity metamaterials has drawn significant interest due to their unconventional behaviors which are often impossible to be achieved with natural materials (Skelton and De Oliveira, 2010; Fraternali et al, 2012; Amendola et al, 2015; Skelton, 2002; Skelton and de Oliveira, 2010a; Skelton and de Oliveira, 2010b; Carpentieri et al, 2017; Skelton et al, 2014; Carpentieri et al, 2015). The full terms of this licence may be seen at http://creativecommons.org/licences/by/4.0/legalcode
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