Adaptive Tensegrity Module. II: Tests and Comparison of Results
Publication: Journal of Structural Engineering
Volume 140, Issue 9
Abstract
This paper describes a newly developed adaptive tensegrity module which has the ability to alter its geometrical form and prestress properties in order to adapt its behavior to current loading conditions. The novel adaptive structure and its connections create a new aspect which is presented in the paper. This system contains sensors that sense forces from the environment and an actuator that adjusts its shape accordingly, depending upon the load applied. The structure, in the form of an octahedral cell, consists of eight prestressed cables, four circumferential compressed struts and a central compressed strut which is designed to function as an actuator. Five types of tests were carried out, namely a prestressing test, a static loading test, and three adaptation tests. Tests confirmed the functionality of the developed adaptive system and the applicability of the proposed equipment, software, computational models, and control commands. Responses of the structure obtained analytically and numerically are compared with experimental results. The results demonstrate that the experimentally obtained behavior of the adaptive tensegrity system can be theoretically predicted.
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Acknowledgments
This work is part of Research Project No. 1/0321/12, partially founded by the Scientific Grant Agency of the Ministry of Education of Slovak Republic and the Slovak Academy of Sciences. The present research has been carried out within the Project Centre of Excellent Integrated Research for Progressive Building Structures, Materials, and Technologies, supported by European Union Structural funds.
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Published In
Journal of Structural Engineering
Volume 140 • Issue 9 • September 2014
Copyright
© 2014 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Oct 30, 2012
Accepted: Sep 27, 2013
Published online: Apr 23, 2014
Published in print: Sep 1, 2014
Discussion open until: Sep 23, 2014
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