G1000603 Structural Design of Tensegrity Plates with Tensegrity Prism Units

Abstract

This paper considers tensegrity structures constructed from a repetition of simple basic units. Considering to design plate-type structures, we choose a tensegrity prism as a unit. Connectivity matrix plays a central role in analysis and design of tensegrity structures. This paper provides a systematic way to construct the connectivity matrices of tensegrity structures constructed from a repetition of the tensegrity prisms. Number of the units and node location (shape) can also be chosen arbitrary. As an application of the connectivity matrix, a dynamical simulation of a tensegrity prism plate is shown.