Tensegrity, a term coined by Buckminster Fuller in the 1960s, refers to a structural principle utilizing isolated compression components within a tensile network. It offers advantages such as increased stiffness to mass ratio, deployability, and minimal mass design, making it suitable for applications in civil engineering like roofs and bridges. The concept supports the development of adaptive structures that can respond to environmental changes through active control systems.

2. The term TENSEGRITY was coined
by Buckminster Fuller in the 1960s as
a portmanteau of "tensional integrity"
SOURCE : WikiTensegrity
KENNETH SNELSON X-PIECE-1949
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3. = TENSION + INTEGRITY
Tensegrity, tensional integrity or floating compression is
a structural principle based on the use of isolated components
in compression inside a net of continuous tension, in such a way that
the compressed members (usually bars or struts) do not touch each
other and the prestressed tensioned members (usually cables or
tendons) delineate the system spatially.
PIC:NEEDLE TOWERCreated by THEERUMALAI GA, GCE-TIRUNELVELI

4. SOURCE : WikiSpaces TensegrityCreated by THEERUMALAI GA, GCE-TIRUNELVELI

5. SOURCE: TensegrityWiki - Basics
X-MODULETETRAHEDRONICOSAHEDRONPROTO TENSEGRITY PRISM
GROUND HYPOTESIS
A SIMPLE 3 MEMBER PRISM A SIMPLE 4 MEMBER PRISM
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6.  COMPRESSION MEMBERS  LOSES STIFFNESS  WHEN LOADED
 TENSION MEMBERS  GAINS STIFFNESS  WHEN LOADED
 ABSENCE OF BENDING MOMENT FORCES ACT THROUGH MASS CENTER
 A LARGE STIFFNESS TO MASS RATIO CAN BE ACHIEVED  BY
INCREASING THE NUMBER OF TENSIONAL MEMBERS
 EFFICIENCY OF A STRUCTURE INCREASES  MINIMAL MASS DESIGN
 Tensegrity structures use longitudinal members arranged in a very
unusual pattern to achieve maximum strength with small mass.
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7.  COMPRESSION MEMBERS  EITHER DISJOINTED OR CONNECTED WITH BALL JOINTS
 LARGE DISPLACEMENT, DEPLOYABILITY, STOWAGE IN A COMPACT VOLUME
 HIGH OPERATIONAL AND PORTABILITY ADVANTAGES  SMALL VOLUME
 FINE TUNING AND ADJUSTMENTS OF DAMAGES ARE POSSIBLE  SINCE MEMBERS
ARE DISJOINT OR CONNECTED WITH BALL JOINTS
 STRUCTURES ALLOWING EASY TUNING  IMPORTANT ASPECT  NEXT GEN
MECHANICAL AND CIVIL STRUCTURES
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8.  STRUCTURE AS A WHOLE BENDS  INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS DON’T BEND  DON’T EXPERIENCE BENDING MOMENT
 MEMBERS EXPERIENCING DEFORMATION IN 2 OR 3 DIMENSIONS ARE HARDER TO MODEL THAN MEMBERS
EXPERIENCING FORCES IN ONE DIMENSION
 INCREASED USE OF TENSILE MEMBERS  YIELD MORE EFFICIENT STRUCTURES
 LOAD BEARING MEMBER CAN PERFORM  MULTIPLE FUNCTIONS
 TENSION OR COMPRESSION MEMBER SENSOR (MEASURING LENGTH OR TENSION)
 ACTUATOR( such as NiTi WIRE)
 THERMAL INSULATOR
 ELECTRICAL CONDUCTOR
 PROPER CHOICE OF MATERIALS GEOMETRY, ELECTRICAL, MECHANICAL AND THERMAL ENERGY OF A
MATERIAL AND A STRUCTURE CAN BE CONTROLLED
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9.  STRONGEST NATURAL FIBRE  SPIDER WEB
 BETA PLEATED SHEETS  DISCONTINUOUS COMPRESSION MEMBERS
 AMINO ACID MATRIX TENSION MEMBERS
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10. Applications of tensegrity
structures is appropriate in
various areas of civil
engineering such as:
1)Roof structures
2)Bridges
3)Smart structures
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11. The patented Telstar
Tensegrity roof concept is
employed, for twin peak
contour and the plan
configuration. It is more
like a cable dome
structure than to a
conventional roof
structure. Initial studies
for the design of
tensegrity grids were
carried out by Snelson,
but its applications were
limited.
SOURCE: TensegrityWiki - Basics
THE ESTADIO CIUDAD DE LA PLATA
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12. MUNICH OLYMPIC STADIUM
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13.  OPENED ON 4TH
OCTOBER,2009
 470 M LONG AND 120 M MAIN SPAN
 TWO LARGE VIEWING & RELAXATION PLATFORMS, TWO REST
AREAS AND A CONTINUOUS ALL WEATHER CANOPY
 550 TONS OF STEEL AND 6.8 KM OF SPIRAL STRAND CABLE
KURILPA BRIDGE , BRISBANE- AUSTRALIA
A cable-stay structure based on principles
of Tensegrity producing a synergy between
balanced tension and compression
components to create a light structure
that is incredibly strong.
Created by THEERUMALAI GA, GCE-TIRUNELVELI

14. Civil Engineering structures are mostly static. One of
the challenging functionality for Civil Engineering
structures is an active adaptation to changing
demands, such as load variations, temperature
variations, settlement of supports and damage
occurrence.
The concept of active structures involves structures
that include both static and active structural
elements. Adaptive structures are defined as
structures whose performance is controlled by a
system composed of sensors, actuators and a
computer that provides the ability to learn and
improve response to changing environments.
The system of Tensegrity structures gains the
potential to adapt to change in environments, so they
can be equipped with active control systems.MONTREAL BIOSPHERE
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15. Cloud Nine is the
name Buckminster Fuller gave to
his proposed airborne
habitats created from
giant geodesic spheres, which
might be made to levitate by slightly
heating the air inside above the
ambient temperature.
Created by THEERUMALAI GA, GCE-TIRUNELVELI

16. REFERENCE
•Wikispaces: Tensegrity
•Wikipedia: Tensegrity
•Buckminster Fuller Institute
•Kenneth Snelson website
•Wyss Institute: Donald Ingber profile
•Wyss Institute: tensegrity search
•Ingber Lab at Children's Hospital Boston
•Tensegrity in a Cell
•RW GRAY’S ANALOGY ON TENSEGRITY
•CONSTRUCTOR.ORG
PIC: Turning TorsoCreated by THEERUMALAI GA, GCE-TIRUNELVELI

17. Created by THEERUMALAI GA, GCE-TIRUNELVELI