Bistable regimes in an elastic tensegrity system

Abstract

Tensegrity systems are prestressed frameworks composed of bars and cables. A particular elastic tensegrity system is examined. This system can be bistable in two fundamentally different ways, one depending on its geometric dimensions, and the other one depending on the initial deformation, or prestrain, of the elastic elements. A reduced-order semi-analytical model is derived, and its predictions are verified with a full-order numerical model. In particular, the critical geometry and prestrain at which the system switches from one regime to another are determined. This case study provides a benchmark and new insights on this class of structures.