Having now developed a number of tensegrity structures, based on stick and string or strut and tension designs I decided to have a look at options whereby we replace the tension components with membranes or diaphragms.
I took a fairly common structure known as a truncated tetrahedron and explored a number of variations using membranes.
I should note that the Cad program I use; Soildworks; is not very good at depicting true generation of stressed membranes so the edge curvature is approximated in each case just to give some idea of what it may look like.
Eventually I will try and get hold of an evaluation copy of a membrane design program to test this out to gain a better perspective.
The image on the left assumes a planar arrangement following the route of three continuous tendons and the line of the main connecting strut. I have opted to include a centre connection point on the main strut which resulted in applying a bending force on the strut and needed to be countered by inclusion of the small internal triangular membrane.
The image on the right is a much simpler arrangement essentially following the perimeter of each perceived face of the tetrahedron. As all the points are interconnected there is no requirement to close the triangular end openings.
Kenneth Snelson has a detailed article on triangulated tension networks which could be adapted to develop membrane arrangements.
http://kennethsnelson.net/2010/12-triangulated-tension-networks/
I have no immediate plans to build any of these membrane structures at this time, but again the composite construction technique would be ideal for doing this.
I took a fairly common structure known as a truncated tetrahedron and explored a number of variations using membranes.
I should note that the Cad program I use; Soildworks; is not very good at depicting true generation of stressed membranes so the edge curvature is approximated in each case just to give some idea of what it may look like.
Eventually I will try and get hold of an evaluation copy of a membrane design program to test this out to gain a better perspective.
The image on the left assumes a planar arrangement following the route of three continuous tendons and the line of the main connecting strut. I have opted to include a centre connection point on the main strut which resulted in applying a bending force on the strut and needed to be countered by inclusion of the small internal triangular membrane.
The image on the right is a much simpler arrangement essentially following the perimeter of each perceived face of the tetrahedron. As all the points are interconnected there is no requirement to close the triangular end openings.
Kenneth Snelson has a detailed article on triangulated tension networks which could be adapted to develop membrane arrangements.
http://kennethsnelson.net/2010/12-triangulated-tension-networks/
I have no immediate plans to build any of these membrane structures at this time, but again the composite construction technique would be ideal for doing this.
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