ONE-SEMESTER

Studio-base teaching, two students team work

Dome Structure

Convertible tensegrity system for dome structures and buildings

research&Design

Convertible tensegrity concept and mechanism

build model

Testing and concept models, a 2m x 2m physical model at the final stage

goal

The ability to flex the fingers consists of a flexor SECTION DIAGRAM muscles in the forearm and their tendons are inserted into the bones of the fingers. The bones on human’s fingers works as compression members such as steel or concrete, and tendons will be tension members like cables.

When brain commends arm muscle to pull tendon (cable) to move forefinger, the muscle pulls tendon (cable) and then forefinger bone (steel) move toward the direction the tendon pulls.

The structure has the same concept. It is called folding tensegrity.

Module of Box Tensegrity

4 struts are suspended in tension members. Discontinuous compression members in the sea of continuous tension members.

Module of Triangular Tensegrity

3 studs are suspended in tension members.

The structure has direction of axis generating triangular and hexagonal shape of patterns. The purpose of triangular shape insteadof rectangle is under stable consideration.

The 6 points in hexagonal pattern has 2 differnet height level: 3 high and 3 low points. This level differences help the structure build beautiful membrane which will work as tension member.

Fabrication & Details

CNC Cutting

Members and Joints

diagram transformation

actual transformation

This convertible tensegrity dome design can be used for large-span space buildings like stadiums.

For example, the dome is flat and closed when there’s no people sit in the stadium, ; when certian number of people sit in the stadium, their weight is transferred to force to arises and opens the dome.

With these special function and mechanism make structure movement spontaneous without any enery assumption.