RESEARCH ON A TENSEGRITY TOWER COMPOSED OF TRUNCATEDTRIANGULAR PYRAMIDS

摘要

The general situation of the tensegrity tower structure is presented firstly. Then based on the basic self-stressedrnand self-equilibrated characteristics of tensegrity, two approaches of applications of tensegrity in actual projectsrnare analyzed and modular design thought are put forward. The architectural design and structural design of therntensegrity tower are also represented. The four kinds of cable pillars in the tensegrity modular body arerncompared and analyzed: oblique-cabled spiral pillars, horizontal-cabled spiral pillars, central pillars withrnpin-jointed horizontal members and central pillars with fixed joint horizontal members. These pillars are all usedrnas compression members in this tower structure. Two kinds of spiral pillars can be only used as decorativernvertical pillars bearing small axial load because of small axial rigidity. When the load is small, pin-jointedrnhorizontal members should be selected; when the load is large, rigid-jointed horizontal members have theirrnpriority. Modular pulling design and structural assembly design are also studied. At last, the testing modelrnmanufacture is introduced. Modular design thought is a feasible approach for the applications of tensegrity, andrnit can be used to design tensegrity structures in actual projects.