Parametric analysis of some tensegrity structures

Abstract

The objective of the paper are tensegrity structures and a possibility to control their properties such as a stiffness and a natural frequency, by the level of self-stress. Basic tensegrity modules and towers and plates built of these modules are considered. In each example mechanisms and self-stress states are identified using the singular value decomposition of compatibility matrix method. Parametric analyses of the effect of the self-stress state on the static and dynamic properties of structures are carried out. Analyses are performed using the second order theory (in Mathematica environment) and the third order theory (in Sofistik program).