as a synergy ball.
They're both spheres, but that's about all they have in common.
A synergy ball is a tensegrity sphere whose integrity is based on a synergy between tension and compression . The compression members (rods) are only connected to each other by tension members (cables) giving the structures a very light quality. Bending moments are non-existant within this system of contrasting forces.
Buckminster Fuller coined the term tensegrity after viewing sculptures by Kenneth Snelson
While writing "Synergetics: Explorations in the Geometry of Thinking" (1975), Fuller made the following observation:
"Structural Analysis is predicated on compressional continuity and nature doesn't use it . . . ever."I'm building some tensegrity "toys" this weekend in the hopes of getting a better understanding of its possible applications.
J.
tensegrity structures are awesome.
ReplyDeletetheir problem is that there are no systems of redundancy - and any failure of the system would result in catastrophic failure of the whole structure.
but this isn't a problem for you in this project - try making some tensengrity models - this will help generate ideas. start simple and work your way to more and more complex.