Tensile Configurations Exploring Spatial Membrane Tensegrity Shell Structures

Kenneth Tracy, Sachin Sean Gupta, Loo Yi Ning Stella, So Jing Wen, Abhipsa Pal, Thomas Wortmann, Robert Bamford

Research output: Chapter in Book or Report/Conference proceedingConference Proceedingpeer-review

4 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Structural membranes exhibit advantages over slab and frame structures, accommodating large deformations while still elegantly combining spatial enclosure with material efficiency. One of the most promising types of membrane structures are membrane tensegrity structures, which are composed of discontinuous struts embedded in a tensile membrane. To date, membrane tensegrity structures are limited to completely closed formations or require extensive tethering, hindering their applicability for diverse architectural contexts. Here, a design framework is presented for creating self-supporting membrane tensegrity shell structures with spatial openings, enabled by novel reciprocally tessellated strut configurations. Through a combination of heuristic physical prototyping and digital formfinding tools, a library of membrane tensegrity forms has been developed that serves as tangible data for an expanded morphospace. To test the effectiveness of the established methods, a 10 m2 membrane tensegrity shell pavilion was built as a first large-scale demonstrator. Feedback from this demonstrator led to the development of computational strut tessellation tools that enable the search for informed, performance-driven design space.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationUbiquity and Autonomy - Paper Proceedings of the 39th Annual Conference of the Association for Computer Aided Design in Architecture, ACADIA 2019
EditorsKory Bieg, Danelle Briscoe, Clay Odom
PublisherACADIA
Pages110-119
Number of pages10
ISBN (Electronic)9780578591797
Publication statusPublished - 2019
Event39th Annual Conference of the Association for Computer Aided Design in Architecture: Ubiquity and Autonomy, ACADIA 2019 - Austin, United States
Duration: 24 Oct 201926 Oct 2019

Publication series

NameUbiquity and Autonomy - Paper Proceedings of the 39th Annual Conference of the Association for Computer Aided Design in Architecture, ACADIA 2019

Conference

Conference39th Annual Conference of the Association for Computer Aided Design in Architecture: Ubiquity and Autonomy, ACADIA 2019
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityAustin
Period24/10/1926/10/19

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