tensegrity - smart structures - g@t

The term TENSEGRITY was coined by Buckminster Fuller in the 1960s as a portmanteau of "tensional integrity"

SOURCE : WikiTensegrity

KENNETH SNELSON X-PIECE-1949

Created by THEERUMALAI GA, GCE-TIRUNELVELI

= TENSION + INTEGRITY

Tensegrity, tensional integrity or floating compression is a structural principle based on the use of isolated components in compression inside a net of continuous tension, in such a way that the compressed members (usually bars or struts) do not touch each other and the prestressed tensioned members (usually cables or tendons) delineate the system spatially.

PIC:NEEDLE TOWERCreated by THEERUMALAI GA, GCE-TIRUNELVELI

SOURCE : WikiSpaces TensegrityCreated by THEERUMALAI GA, GCE-TIRUNELVELI

SOURCE: TensegrityWiki - Basics

X-MODULETETRAHEDRONICOSAHEDRONPROTO TENSEGRITY PRISM

GROUND HYPOTESIS A SIMPLE 3 MEMBER PRISM A SIMPLE 4 MEMBER PRISM


COMPRESSION MEMBERS LOSES STIFFNESS WHEN LOADED

TENSION MEMBERS GAINS STIFFNESS WHEN LOADED

ABSENCE OF BENDING MOMENT FORCES ACT THROUGH MASS CENTER

A LARGE STIFFNESS TO MASS RATIO CAN BE ACHIEVED BY

INCREASING THE NUMBER OF TENSIONAL MEMBERS

EFFICIENCY OF A STRUCTURE INCREASES MINIMAL MASS DESIGN

Tensegrity structures use longitudinal members arranged in a very

unusual pattern to achieve maximum strength with small mass.


COMPRESSION MEMBERS EITHER DISJOINTED OR CONNECTED WITH BALL JOINTS

LARGE DISPLACEMENT, DEPLOYABILITY, STOWAGE IN A COMPACT VOLUME

HIGH OPERATIONAL AND PORTABILITY ADVANTAGES SMALL VOLUME

FINE TUNING AND ADJUSTMENTS OF DAMAGES ARE POSSIBLE SINCE MEMBERS

ARE DISJOINT OR CONNECTED WITH BALL JOINTS

STRUCTURES ALLOWING EASY TUNING IMPORTANT ASPECT NEXT GEN

MECHANICAL AND CIVIL STRUCTURES


STRUCTURE AS A WHOLE BENDS INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS DON’T BEND DON’T EXPERIENCE BENDING MOMENT

MEMBERS EXPERIENCING DEFORMATION IN 2 OR 3 DIMENSIONS ARE HARDER TO MODEL THAN MEMBERS

EXPERIENCING FORCES IN ONE DIMENSION

INCREASED USE OF TENSILE MEMBERS YIELD MORE EFFICIENT STRUCTURES

LOAD BEARING MEMBER CAN PERFORM MULTIPLE FUNCTIONS

TENSION OR COMPRESSION MEMBER SENSOR (MEASURING LENGTH OR TENSION)

ACTUATOR( such as NiTi WIRE)

THERMAL INSULATOR

ELECTRICAL CONDUCTOR

PROPER CHOICE OF MATERIALS GEOMETRY, ELECTRICAL, MECHANICAL AND THERMAL ENERGY OF A

MATERIAL AND A STRUCTURE CAN BE CONTROLLED


STRONGEST NATURAL FIBRE SPIDER WEB

BETA PLEATED SHEETS DISCONTINUOUS COMPRESSION MEMBERS

AMINO ACID MATRIX TENSION MEMBERS


Applications of tensegrity structures is appropriate in various areas of civil engineering such as:

1)Roof structures

2)Bridges

3)Smart structures


The patented Telstar Tensegrity roof concept is employed, for twin peak contour and the plan configuration. It is more like a cable dome structure than to a conventional roof structure. Initial studies for the design of tensegrity grids were carried out by Snelson, but its applications were limited.

SOURCE: TensegrityWiki - Basics

THE ESTADIO CIUDAD DE LA PLATA


MUNICH OLYMPIC STADIUM


OPENED ON 4TH OCTOBER,2009

470 M LONG AND 120 M MAIN SPAN

TWO LARGE VIEWING & RELAXATION PLATFORMS, TWO REST

AREAS AND A CONTINUOUS ALL WEATHER CANOPY

550 TONS OF STEEL AND 6.8 KM OF SPIRAL STRAND CABLE

KURILPA BRIDGE , BRISBANE- AUSTRALIA

A cable-stay structure based on principles of Tensegrity producing a synergy between balanced tension and compression components to create a light structure that is incredibly strong.


Civil Engineering structures are mostly static. One of the challenging functionality for Civil Engineering structures is an active adaptation to changing demands, such as load variations, temperature variations, settlement of supports and damage occurrence.

The concept of active structures involves structures that include both static and active structural elements. Adaptive structures are defined as structures whose performance is controlled by a system composed of sensors, actuators and a computer that provides the ability to learn and improve response to changing environments.

The system of Tensegrity structures gains the potential to adapt to change in environments, so they can be equipped with active control systems.MONTREAL BIOSPHERE


Cloud Nine is the name Buckminster Fuller gave to his proposed airborne habitats created from giant geodesic spheres, which might be made to levitate by slightly heating the air inside above the ambient temperature.


REFERENCE•Wikispaces: Tensegrity

•Wikipedia: Tensegrity

•Buckminster Fuller Institute

•Kenneth Snelson website

•Wyss Institute: Donald Ingber profile

•Wyss Institute: tensegrity search

•Ingber Lab at Children's Hospital Boston

•Tensegrity in a Cell

•RW GRAY’S ANALOGY ON TENSEGRITY

•CONSTRUCTOR.ORG

PIC: Turning TorsoCreated by THEERUMALAI GA, GCE-TIRUNELVELI

http://tensegrity.wikispaces.com/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tensegrity

http://bfi.org/

http://www.kennethsnelson.net/

http://wyss.harvard.edu/viewpage/121/donald-e-ingber