Beyond Representation Real Time Form Finding of Tensegrity Structures with 3D ‘Compressed’ Components

Abstract

Tensegrity structures are of interest to architecture and engineering as a practical means to explore lightweight and rapidly deployable modular structures that have a high degree of geometric freedom and formal potency. The notion of tensegrity structures with 3D ‘compressed’ components is introduced and their feasibility is demonstrated through selected physical models. Attempts to further explore the architectural potential of tensegrity structures within a computational environment have proven difficult, as they arstatically indeterminate and require form finding procedures to “find a geometcompatible with a self-stress state” (Motro 2002). An overview of tensegrity ‘capable’ software that can be used for architectural design is followed by a discussion that introduces an additional computational method based on particle-spring systems. This approach enables real time manipulation of tensegrity networks. Two projects that utilize this unique tool are described.