The Analyses of Triangular Tensegrity Prisms’ Pairs

This paper deals with an analysis of triangular tensegrity prisms’ pairs under the influence of an external loading. A triangular tensegrity prisms’ pair is made by mirroring the basic triangular tensegrity prism by the plane passing through its upper nodes. A pair created in this way, forms another basic component from which there might be created bigger units, e.g. tensegrity slabs. An important aim of this paper is finding the ways how to use the tensegrity structures in practice. By placing the triangular tensegrity prisms’ pairs into a “triangular-checkered” shape, one next to the other, a continuous net is created from the upper and bottom triangles, that might be shaped into various ground plan shapes. The triangles located in the middle of the prisms’ pairs are not connected mutually – they are left unconnected. In this way structural units might be created, which may be a “tensegrity version” of the standard space-trussed slabs and could be used as a roof for long-span halls.