Investigation of deformation in tensegrity structures across different string materials and dimensions
Keywords:
deformation, tensegrity, string dimension, string materialAbstract
This experiment investigates the deformation behaviour of various string materials used in tensegrity structures, specifically in a tensegrity table, which is subjected to controlled loading conditions. Six types of strings with different diameters and material compositions were used in the experiment, including braided nylon (3, 4, and 5 mm), monofilament fishing string, braided fishing string, and fluorocarbon string. Measured under incremental loads of 5, 10, and 15 kg, the deformation of each string was observed to correlate with its mechanical characteristics, including stiffness, yield strength, and Young's modulus. The experiment shows that monofilament fishing string shows the least amount of deformation, making it the most structurally stable under various loading conditions, which is related to its material stiffness and minimal cross-sectional area. In contrast, braided nylon and fluorocarbon strings show higher deformation during testing, indicating that braided nylon and fluorocarbon is unsuitable for high-tension applications in tensegrity systems. This experiment offers insight into choosing the best string materials to improve the stability and load-bearing performance of tension structures, especially tensegrity tables.
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