Cellular morphogenesis of three-dimensional tensegrity structures

TL;DR

This paper introduces a biomimetic cellular morphogenesis approach for the combined topology and form finding of 3D tensegrity structures, enabling flexible and controlled design of complex systems.

Contribution

It presents a novel cellular morphogenesis method using tensegrity cells to unify topology and form finding in spatial tensegrity structures.

Findings

The method allows integration of design constraints like shape and node count.

It provides a basis for describing the self-stress space.

The approach enhances control over tensegrity structure generation.

Abstract

The topology and form finding of tensegrity structures have been studied extensively since the introduction of the tensegrity concept. However, most of these studies address topology and form separately, where the former represented a research focus of rigidity theory and graph theory, while the latter attracted the attention of structural engineers. In this paper, a biomimetic approach for the combined topology and form finding of spatial tensegrity systems is introduced. Tensegrity cells, elementary infinitesimally rigid self-stressed structures that have been proven to compose any tensegrity, are used to generate more complex tensegrity structures through the morphogenesis mechanisms of adhesion and fusion. A methodology for constructing a basis to describe the self-stress space is also provided. Through the definition of self-stress, the cellular morphogenesis method can integrate design considerations, such as a desired shape or number of nodes and members, providing great flexibility and control over the tensegrity structure generated.