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Tensegrity structure optimization for finding stable configurations

delete2026-01-01
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PRE
AI
A
Aishwary Katre *
S
Sivakumar Srinivasan
R
R. Parthasarathy
DOI:10.1080/15502287.2026.2623666delete
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Abstract

Abstract

En 中文
Tensegrity structures are prestressed truss-like structures that balance tensile and compressive forces within a network of struts and cables. They have gained significant attention in engineering and architecture due to their favorable attributes, such as deployability, aesthetic appeal, non-linear behavior, tunable stiffness, and minimal material usage. Researchers have focused most of their work on form-finding methods such as force density, adaptive force density, dynamic relaxation, and evolutionary algorithms. In this research work, the objective is to determine bistable/multistable configurations in a class of symmetric tensegrity structures (class-1symmetrical simplex tensegrity). The bistability or multistability of tensegrity structures, which enables seamless transitions between different shapes and states, can provide optimal performance for a variety of tasks. This research explores optimizing potential energy without using any nonlinear incremental finite element like methods. Instead, this study utilizes an existing commercially available minimization function for non-linear optimization to trace the potential energy curve and determine stable configurations. It is found that the transitions in the lower-order tensegrity structures are twinning-like transitions with the abrupt release of strain energy, while higher-order structures tend to exhibit smooth transitions between two different stable configurations with different energy levels.
Keywords:
Class-1 symmetric tensegrity
non-linear optimization
bistable configurations
hyperelastic modeling
shape transformation
deployable structures

Journal

I
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR COMPUTATIONAL METHODS IN ENGINEERING SCIENCE & MECHANICS
IF:
1.4
Papers:
19
Citations:
0

Organization

I
indian institute of technology (iit) - madras
Scholars:
5.1K
Papers: 5.2K
Citations: 1
I
indian institute of technology system (iit system)
Scholars:
9.5W
Papers: 9.9W
Citations: 93