Programmable Deployment of Tensegrity Structures by Stimulus-Responsive Polymers.

ABSTRACT: Tensegrity structures with detached struts are naturally suitable for deployable applications, both in terrestrial and outer-space structures, as well as morphing devices. Composed of discontinuous struts and continuous cables, such systems are only structurally stable when self-stress is induced; otherwise, they lose the original geometrical configuration (while keeping the topology) and thus can be tightly packed. We exploit this feature by using stimulus responsive polymers to introduce a paradigm for creating actively deployable 3D structures with complex shapes. The shape-change of 3D printed smart materials adds an active dimension to the configurational space of some structural components. Then we achieve dramatic global volume expansion by amplifying component-wise deformations to

SUBMITTER: Liu K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5471187 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature