Tensegrity Systems (PDF)

Tensegrity Systems discusses analytical tools to design energy efficient and lightweight structures employing the concept of "tensegrity." This word is Buckminister Fuller's contraction of the words "Tensile" and "Integrity," which suggests that integrity or, as we would say, stability of the structure comes from tension. In a tensegrity structure the rigid bodies (the bars), might not have any contact, thus providing extraordinary freedom to control shape, by controlling only tendons. Tensegrity Systems covers both static and dynamic analysis of special tensegrity structural concepts, which are motivated by biological material architecture.

Drawing upon years of practical experience and using numerous examples and illustrative applications, Robert Skelton and Mauricio C. de Oliveira discuss:

The design of tensegrity structures using analytical tools

The integration of tensegrity systems into a combined framework including structural design and control design

The rules for filling space (tesselation) with self-similar structures that guarantee a specific mechanical property are provided

Tensegrity Systems will be of interest to all engineers who design or control light-weight structures, including deployable and robotic structures, and shape controllable structures. Also, Engineers interested in the study of advanced dynamics will find new and useful algorithms for multibody systems.