An optimized tensegrity system is designed to be efficient in tension. The system is composed of simple units each having one compressive member (bar) and four tensile members (strings). The total number of units in the network is pq where p is the number of parallel lines of units, and each line is q units long. The problem solved is to find the angle between the strings of each unit and the optimal complexity p, q so as to minimize the mass of the total system while satisfying a stiffness constraint.
CañadasP.LaurentV. M.OddouC.IsabeyD.WendlingS.A cellular tensegrity model to analyse the structural viscoelasticity of the cytoskeleton. Journal of Theoretical Biology, 218: 155–173, 2002.
2.
IngberD.E.The architecture of life. Scientific American, pages 48–57, January 1998.
3.
LieberR. L.Skeletal Muscle Structure, Function and Plasticity.Lippicott Williams & Wilkins, 2002.
4.
PearceP.. Structure in Nature Is a Strategy for Design.MIT Press, 1990. 5th printing.
5.
SimmonsA. H.MichalC. A.JelinskiL. W.Molecular orientation and two-component nature of the crystalline fraction of dragline silk. Science, 271: 84–87, 1996.
SnelsonK.Snelson on the tensegrity invention. International Journal of Space Structures, 11: 43–48, 1996.
8.
TermoniaY.Molecular modeling of spider silk elasticity. Macromolecules, 27: 7378–7381, 1994.
9.
VassartN.MotroR.Multiparametered formfinding method: Application to tensegrity systems. International Journal of Space Structures, 14(2):147–154, 1999.
10.
VeraC.SkeltonR. E.BossensF.SungL. A.3–D nanomechanics of an erythrocyte junctional complex in equibiaxial and anisotropic deformations. Annals of Biomedical Engineering, 33(10): 1387–1404, 2005.