Lightweight designs of simply supported tensegrity structures and their applications to bridges

Guangtao Zhang; Muhao Chen; Daihai Chen; Yuling Shen

doi:10.1016/j.compstruct.2025.118923

Lightweight designs of simply supported tensegrity structures and their applications to bridges

Guangtao Zhang, Muhao Chen, Daihai Chen, Yuling Shen

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

4 Scopus citations

Abstract

This study presents lightweight designs using the tensegrity paradigm for the simply supported problem. Three tensegrity solutions are explored: super-structures, sub-structures, and cable-structures. The basic units of the three kinds are first studied, where we analytically calculate the minimal mass required, along with the optimal inclinations angles, to sustain a simply supported load. By applying self-similar rules and varying the structure subdivisions and complexities, the structure mass is further minimized under bar-yielding and buckling constraints. This study finds the optimal complexities and subdivisions of the three solutions. Numerical results validate and compare the minimal mass designs. These proposed lightweight designs are applicable to bridge designs and other scenarios that undergo simply supported loads.

Original language	English
Article number	118923
Journal	Composite Structures
Volume	357
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compstruct.2025.118923
State	Published - Mar 2025

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2025 Elsevier Ltd

Funding

Y.S. thanks the support from the Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province under grant No. SBK2024045511. M.C. and Y.S. appreciate the many helpful discussions with Dr. Robert E. Skelton. G.Z. appreciates Mr. Guangkuo Zhang for his insightful discussions.

Funders	Funder number
Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province	SBK2024045511
Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province

Keywords

Cable structure
Lightweight structure
Minimal mass
Simply supported structure
Tensegrity

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Ceramics and Composites
Civil and Structural Engineering

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10.1016/j.compstruct.2025.118923

Cite this

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title = "Lightweight designs of simply supported tensegrity structures and their applications to bridges",

abstract = "This study presents lightweight designs using the tensegrity paradigm for the simply supported problem. Three tensegrity solutions are explored: super-structures, sub-structures, and cable-structures. The basic units of the three kinds are first studied, where we analytically calculate the minimal mass required, along with the optimal inclinations angles, to sustain a simply supported load. By applying self-similar rules and varying the structure subdivisions and complexities, the structure mass is further minimized under bar-yielding and buckling constraints. This study finds the optimal complexities and subdivisions of the three solutions. Numerical results validate and compare the minimal mass designs. These proposed lightweight designs are applicable to bridge designs and other scenarios that undergo simply supported loads.",

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AU - Zhang, Guangtao

AU - Chen, Muhao

AU - Chen, Daihai

AU - Shen, Yuling

PY - 2025/3

Y1 - 2025/3

N2 - This study presents lightweight designs using the tensegrity paradigm for the simply supported problem. Three tensegrity solutions are explored: super-structures, sub-structures, and cable-structures. The basic units of the three kinds are first studied, where we analytically calculate the minimal mass required, along with the optimal inclinations angles, to sustain a simply supported load. By applying self-similar rules and varying the structure subdivisions and complexities, the structure mass is further minimized under bar-yielding and buckling constraints. This study finds the optimal complexities and subdivisions of the three solutions. Numerical results validate and compare the minimal mass designs. These proposed lightweight designs are applicable to bridge designs and other scenarios that undergo simply supported loads.

AB - This study presents lightweight designs using the tensegrity paradigm for the simply supported problem. Three tensegrity solutions are explored: super-structures, sub-structures, and cable-structures. The basic units of the three kinds are first studied, where we analytically calculate the minimal mass required, along with the optimal inclinations angles, to sustain a simply supported load. By applying self-similar rules and varying the structure subdivisions and complexities, the structure mass is further minimized under bar-yielding and buckling constraints. This study finds the optimal complexities and subdivisions of the three solutions. Numerical results validate and compare the minimal mass designs. These proposed lightweight designs are applicable to bridge designs and other scenarios that undergo simply supported loads.

KW - Cable structure

KW - Lightweight structure

KW - Minimal mass

KW - Simply supported structure

KW - Tensegrity

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ER -

Lightweight designs of simply supported tensegrity structures and their applications to bridges

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Funding

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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