Tensegrity Systems and Geodesic Domes

Abstract

The name Buckminster Fuller is associated with the development of geodesic domes and with tensegrity systems. The principle of the latter is that rigidity is obtained by selfstressing alone. The shapes of domes constructed using tensegrity systems are not generally known a priori; these domes belong to the class of systems with indeterminate shape, such as cable systems. A form-finding method using the dynamic relaxation technique with attenuation of kinetic energy is presented here. The results given by this general method are compared with known solutions in certain cases and make it possible to quantify the deviations between geometries of tensegrity systems and polyhedral geometries. An example is given to illustrate the possibilities of the combination of the principle of tensegity systems with that of geodesic domes. It is a double-layer, double-curvature system whose shape respects the selfstressing criterion. Industrial construction of the system can be envisaged thanks to the design of an assembly node which permits variations in curve radius.