Determination of Member Lengths for Building a Regular Tensegrity Structure: An Analytical Study

Abstract

Form finding is the first step in study of a tensegrity structure. All the existing form finding methods require length of struts and free length of cables as input. This often results in an iterative process since all free lengths do not allow feasible tensegrity structures to be constructed. This work proposes a novel form finding method for regular tensegrity structures which does not require the free length of cables to be known a priori. The azimuthal angles of struts are required as input and the free length, stressed length and force density of cables can be derived. This allows the feasible set of cable lengths, strut lengths and orientations to be evaluated for a given number of struts, cables and connectivity. The range of options thus presented would be of great benefit to a structure designer working with other practical constraints.