EXPERIMENTAL STUDY ON STATIC LOAD RESPONSES OF DOUBLE-LAYER TENSEGRITY GRIDS

Abstract

Static load responses of a 4m span double-layer tensegrity grid which involves 13 simplexes have been investigated. The grid was easily assembled and properly prestressed. The overall load response corresponded with nonlinear analysis results with small discrepancies. Linear analysis, however, may considerably underestimate member forces though it predicts displacements quite well. The failure of the connection part did not lead to an unstable structure, thus some redundancy of the grid was observed. The experiment can assure the feasibility of the proposed grid in small-span application fields.