1. Tensegrity & the Future
By Joseph Carreon
Mentor: Professor Omar Es-Said, Seaver College of Science and Engineering

2. What is tensegrity?

3. Tensegrity is a structural principle in which structural shape is guaranteed by the interaction between a continuous network of members in tension and a set of member in compression.
Compression – pushing force
Tension – pulling force

4. Tensegrity structures are distinguished from other kinds of structures by the way forces are distributed within them.
Tensile forces are transmitted throughout the whole structure because the tensile members are continuous.
Compression forces are only local and not throughout the whole structure because the compression members are discontinuous, meaning not touching.

5. Skylon in Britain, 1951

6. Karl Iogansan Russian artist Active in the 1920s
“Forefather of tensegrity”

8. Kenneth Snelson American artist
Reintroduced tensegrity to the modern world
Famous for his many tensegrity sculptures

9. .

12. Research Question: How can the principles of tensegrity be used to improve modern architecture and engineering?

14. $10 for 100 ft
$2 for 1 inch diameter, 10 ft pipe

15. Methods
Construct small scale models of basic tensegrity structure and test their strength against a weighted load
Test certain variables: angles, pipe length, rope length, rope tension, load intensity
In addition to testing actual models, 3D modeling software can be used to analyze the forces within the structure, see weak points, etc
Compare strength to conventional designs

16. References
Burkhardt,, Robert. "A Practical Guide to Tensegrity Design." 17 Sept Web. 11 Oct <
Gómez Jáuregui, Valentín. "Tensegrity Structures and Their Application to Architecture." Tensegridad. Web. 10 Oct < Tensegrity_Structures_and_their_Application_to_Architecture _by_GOMEZ- JAUREGUI.pdf>.
Guest, S.D. "The Stiffness of Tensegrity Structures." IMA Journal of Applied Mathematics IMA, J Appl Math (2010): Print.