What is tensegrity? Richard Buckminster Fuller:
"The word 'tensegrity' is an invention: a contraction of 'tensional integrity.' Tensegrity describes a structural-relationship principle in which structural shape is guarenteed by the finitely closed, comprehensively continuous, tensional behaviors of the system and not by the discontinuous and exclusively local compressional member behaviors. Tensegrity provides the ability to yield increasingly without ultimately breaking or coming asunder" [1]
Tensegrity structures are structures based on the combination of a few simple but subtle and deep design patterns:
loading members only in pure compression or pure tension, meaning the structure will only fail if the cables
yield or the rods
buckle (the rods would have to be an exceptionally weak material with a very large diameter to yield before they buckle or the cables yield)
preload, which allows cables to be rigid in compression
minimal overconstraint which reduces stress localization
mechanical
stability, which allows the members to remain in tension/compression as stress on the structure increases
[2]References1-
http://www.tensegrity.com/2-
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tensegrity
