3 Struts
Read here about tensegrity structures composed of three struts, part of a series of pages organized by strut count.
Overview
The 3 strut tensegrity prism is considered the simplest tensegrity structure.
3 Strut Tensegrity Image Gallery
Below, gallery of 3 strut images.
3 Strut Prisms
A 3-strut prism by Fuller, its filament probably dacron, is on display at the Stanford archive.
A 3-strut tensegrity by Fuller, forming a triangle. May have been used to illustrate that even a "polygon" triangle is an ultra-flat tetrahedron.
3-strut tensegrity prism, from Fuller's Tensile-integrity patent number 3063521.
3-strut tensegrities, in two tensile arrangements. Constructed, and photo, by Marcelo Pars.
3-Strut prism, computer rendered by BenFrantzDale and published wikipedia. "3-Strut CAD with Shadow by BenFrantzDale.png."
A carbon nanotube 3 strut prism is proposed. The three carbon nanotubes are covalently tensioned, or tethered, at their cap pentagons by polyethylene polymer chains, by Needham, Wilson, and Yakobson.
See Buckminsterfullerene for more information.
3 strut speaker stand by Q Acoustics
The stainless steel stand of the Q Acoustics Concept 300 speaker is a 3 strut tensegrity, with the addition of a circular plate to mount the speaker.
3 Strut Tower With Added Shade Element
3 strut shade structure by Armin R. Kachel
3 Strut Prism Used as a Tripod
The 3 strut prism can be used as a tripod, supporting an object. WV is a veteran user of tensegrity structures for camping. He has deployed tensegrity hammock stands. Below, a 3 strut tensegrity stand he built supporting a Bushcooker LT II stove. Photographed by WV while camping at Laurel Fork Wilderness, August 2010.
Multiplying The 3 Strut Prism
The 3 strut construction may be repeatedly applied to construct larger tensegrity structures.
10x3 strut prism forming a triangle
Below, 10 repeated 3 strut modules, by Fuller.
3-x3 strut prism forming a sphere
Below, the Sixty Strut Tensegrity by Fuller, composed of a repeated three-strut module.
24x3 strut prism forming a bent torus
StructureMode, an engineering firm, repeatedly used the 3 strut prism to construct a torus that conforms with the perimeter of a hyperbolic paraboloid.
For more information, see Tension Pavilion 2016.
3 strut formed from DNA
A 3 strut tensegrity has been constructed from DNA strands by Seeman's team. Below, a stereoscopic image.
Multiplying Each Strut in the Prism
In an alternate construction method, each structurally essential strut is repeatedly implemented. The new strut is redundant, structurally. Visually, the redundant struts articulate various forms as they apread out and away from one another. Pars experiments with this implementation; below two photos from his website.
Struts don't need to be straight
Replacing each strut with a bow creates fascinating and useful structures:
History
Karl Ioganson may have constructed a 3 strut tensegrity prism in the 1920's.
Links and References
See also
- A video of a 3 strut chime is posted at Musical Instruments.
- 3 strut tables are posted at Furniture
- 3 strut shade structures at Shade Structure