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Tensegrity

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The term "tensegrity" was coined by Buckminster Fuller in the 1960s as a portmanteau of "tensional integrity".

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Indeed, seeing tensegrity makes understanding it easier. The official descriptions are more complicated, such as this one from Wikipedia [1]:

"Tensegrity, tensional integrity or floating compression, is a structural principle based on the use of isolated components in compression inside a net of continuous tension, in such a way that the compressed members (usually bars or struts) do not touch each other and the prestressed tensioned members (usually cables or tendons) delineate the system spatially."

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Contributed by: Karl Scherer (June 2017)
Open content licensed under CC BY-NC-SA

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Details

Introduction

Neither the sticks nor the ropes can change positions. You can lift up the construct from any stick end without it changing shape.

Build some yourself, and you will get a feeling for it.

Controls

Click the "example" popup menu or use the "" buttons to select an example.

The next controls are straightforward: you can select the colors and thicknesses of the sticks and ropes, and you can choose to show a floor (square area) and its color.

Reference

[1] Wikipedia. "Tensegrity." (Jun 20, 2017) en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tensegrity.

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