Compliant Multistable Tensegrity Structures with Simple Topologies

  • Valter Böhm
  • Susanne Sumi
  • Tobias Kaufhold
  • Klaus Zimmermann
Conference paper
First Online:
Part of the Mechanisms and Machine Science book series (Mechan. Machine Science, volume 43)

Abstract

This paper describes a method to identify compliant tensegrity structures with multiple states of self-equilibrium. The considered algorithm is based on the repeated use of a form-finding procedure, using the static Finite-Element-Method. The algorithm can be used to develop compliant multistable tensegrity mechanisms with simple topologies. Therefore three planar tensegrity mechanisms with two or three stable equilibrium configurations are exemplary considered and verified experimentally.

Keywords

Form-finding Compliant tensegrity structure Multiple states of self-equilibrium 
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Notes

Acknowledgments

This work is supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG project BO4114/2-1).

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Copyright information

© Springer International Publishing Switzerland 2017

Authors and Affiliations

  • Valter Böhm
    • 1
  • Susanne Sumi
    • 1
  • Tobias Kaufhold
    • 1
  • Klaus Zimmermann
    • 1
  1. 1.Technical Mechanics GroupIlmenau University of TechnologyIlmenauGermany

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