Designing tensegrity modules for pedestrian bridges

Tensegrity systems are spatial structures composed of tensile and compression components in a self-equilibrated state of prestress. The tensegrity concept has already been studied by researchers in various fields over the past decades. A family of tensegrity modules that can offer promising solutions for civil engineering applications such as tensegrity domes, towers and bridges is analyzed. Research into tensegrity systems has resulted in reliable techniques for form finding and structural analysis. However, the tensegrity concept is not yet part of mainstream structural design. This paper presents a design study of a tensegrity-based pedestrian bridge. The structural performance of the bridge using three tensegrity modules is evaluated through parametric studies. Design requirements for pedestrian bridges and results of parametric studies are used to define a design procedure that optimizes section sizes for this type of structure. A structural efficiency indicator is proposed and used to compare proposals for feasible bridge configurations. Design results illustrate that the hollow-rope tensegrity bridge can efficiently meet typical design criteria.

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Nizar Bel Hadj Ali, René Motro, Landolf-Giosef-Anastasios Rhode-Barbarigos, Ian Smith
Elsevier, 2010
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https://infoscience.epfl.ch/record/148655?ln=fr

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Determining Control Strategies for Damage Tolerance of an Active Tensegrity Structure

Nizar Bel Hadj Ali, Sinan Korkmaz, Ian Smith

Tensegrity structures are spatial, reticulate and lightweight systems composed of struts and cables. Stability is provided by a self-stress state between tensioned and compressed elements. Tensegrities have received interest among scientists and engineers in fields such as architecture, civil and aerospace engineering. Flexibility and ease of tuning make these systems attractive for controllable and adaptive structures. However, tensegrities are often prone to difficulties associated with meeting serviceability criteria and with providing adequate damage tolerance when used as civil engineering structures. This paper extends research on active control of tensegrity structures to study self-repair of a tensegrity pedestrian bridge that is damaged. Self-repair is intended to meet safety and serviceability requirements in case of cable damage in the pedestrian bridge. Intelligent control methodologies that implement stochastic search with active member grouping are proposed. Case studies for several damage scenarios are presented to show the effectiveness of the methodology. Results from simulated damage scenarios show that self-repair can be successfully performed with a minimum number of active members leading to a reduction in control complexity.

Elsevier2011

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Toward development of a biomimetic tensegrity footbridge

Seif Dalil Safaei, Ian Smith, Nicolas Willy Veuve

Biomimetic structures interact with their environment, change their properties, learn and self-repair, thereby providing properties that are similar to living organisms. Interactions with the environment involve unique challenges in the field of computational control, algorithms, damage tolerance, and structural analysis. Tensegrity structures are pin-jointed structures of cables and struts in a self-stress state. Tensegrity structures are suitable for active control since the shape of the structure can be changed by changing the length of the elements. Consequently, they are good candidates for biomimetic structures. This paper describes research that is moving toward a case study of biomimetic behaviour of a deployable tensegrity footbridge. This footbridge is made of four modules. Each module is composed of pentagonal circuit-pattern including interconnected struts in a ring configuration that can be folded if cable lengths are changed. Various actuator combinations can be selected for deployment. This property is particularly interesting for biomimetic structures since a single shape change can be achieved many ways. Methodologies for deployment and folding of tensegrity footbridge via combinations of spring and cable clustered actuation are described. Analytical predictions are compared with test results of a near-full-scale tensegrity footbridge. Strategies for folding and deployment are different. A continuous cable and spring configuration is feasible for deployment of tensegrity footbridge. Since the deployment behaviour is non-linear and since deformed geometry as well as joint friction influences the deployment pattern, pre-defined control commands cannot provide the desired deployed position. Active deployment control is thus justified.

International Center for Numerical Methods in Engineering (CIMNE)2014

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