Abstract
The study includes parametric analysis of special spatial rod grids called tensegrity plate-like structures. Tensegrity structures consist of only compression and tension components arranged in a system, whose unique mechanical and mathematical properties distinguish them from conventional cable–strut frameworks. Complete analysis of tensegrity structures is a two-stage process. The first stage includes the identification of self-stress states and infinitesimal mechanisms (qualitative analysis). The second stage focuses on the behaviour of tensegrities under external loads (quantitative analysis). In the paper, a qualitative analysis of tensegrity plate-like structures built with modified Quartex modules was conducted. Starting from a single-module structure, more complex cases were sequentially analysed. The different ways of plate support were considered. To carry out a qualitative assessment, a spectral analysis of the truss matrices and singular value decomposition of the compatibility matrix were used. The characteristic features of tensegrity structures were identified. On this basis, the plates were classified into one of the four groups defined in the paper, i.e., ideal tensegrity, “pure” tensegrity and structures with tensegrity features of class 1 or class 2. This classification is important due to different behaviours of the structure under external actions. The qualitative analysis carried out in the paper is the basis for a quantitative analysis.
Highlights
Tensegrity is a term derived from the English language as a compound of two words:“tension”—stretching, and “integrity”—stability
In terms of structural mechanics, self-stress states and infinitesimal mechanisms stabilised by these states are the two most important features of tensegrity structures
The qualitative evaluation of truss structures presented in this paper was done for the assessment of the tensegrity plate-like structures
Summary
Tensegrity is a term derived from the English language as a compound of two words:. “tension”—stretching, and “integrity”—stability. Double-layer tensegrity grids ( called tensegrity plate-like structures or tensegrity contiguous configuration (struts are connected to each other) or a non-contiguous configuration plates) are usually built from basic tensegrity modules such as Simplex [6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13] or Quartex [6,14,15,16,17,18]. Emmerich proposed a structure consisting of modified Simplex modules with node–node connections was found by Fuller [7] and Snelson (Snelson’s patent was rejected) [8] (Figure 1) Both of the and two structures built with Quartex modules linked edge-to-edge. A similar design was found abovementioned modules, i.e., Simplex and Quartex, are most often used to build tensegrity by Fuller [7] and Snelson (Snelson’s patent was rejected) [8] (Figure 1)
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