Online Applications
Online Applications
Find here a list of tensegrity applications and simulators that can be accessed online to experiment with virtual tensegrities. See also CAD.
Generic Tools Useful In Tensegrity Research
Form-Finding and Static Analysis of Tensegrity Structures
Researchers at Case Western Reserve University (Cleveland, USA) developed a unified approach through Finite Element Analysis (FEA) and unconstrained non-linear programming for form-finding and static analysis of tensegrity structures. The group distributes an NLP package enabling the unconstrained minimization of a smooth nonlinear real-valued function F(X) as per parameters specified in a configuration file. In their words:
"This text describes a mathematical model for both form finding and static analysis of tensegrity structures. The static analysis can be formulated as an unconstrained nonlinear programming problem, where the objective function is the total potential energy and the displacements of the nodal points are the unknowns. A special line element that can show a constant tension for any displacement of its nodes is used to define a prestressed equilibrium configuration. A quasi-Newton method is used, which avoids the evaluation of the tangent stiffness matrix. Download the complete text as MS-Word and PDF documents, computer source codes written in Ada95 and executable codes for Windows. The computer codes generate a script file for AutoCAD."
Link: arcaro.org/tension/ Link: www.arcaro.org/tension/tensegrity/tensegrity.zip
Finite Element Method Software
Rhinoceros and Ansys Workbench are two software packages mentioned in the article on finite element method analysis.
Tensegrity Models posted To Google Sketchup
Google Sketchup hosts many tensegrity models, a selection below.
Links: Tensegrity Block Parabolic Dome by Spencer Hunter, http://sketchup.google.com/3dwarehouse/details mid=48af374092827ef97303c1d25b01e311&ct=mdrm Other Google Sketchup models, http://sketchup.google.com/3dwarehouse/search?q=tensegrity&styp=m&btnG=Search
Push Me Pull Me Load Simulator
Push Me Pull Me is an interactive app that enables users to manipulate structural forms, helping to understand how structures respond to being loaded. The mouse is used to simulate a load pressing on the structure and the software simulates how the structure reacts. Push Me Pull Me runs on Java.
Example: gennaroSenatore uploaded a movie showing how to find equilibrium for class-1 tensegrity structures and for a new tensegrity sculpture that is being built at the University of Kent designed by Expedition Engineering. The simulation was done in Push-Me-Pull-Me. (Oct 2014)
[[media type="vimeo" key="109579483" height="299" Image width="500"
Links: Push-Me-Pull-Me Website: http://expeditionworkshed.org/workshed/push-me-pull-me/
Tensegrity-Specific Tools
Catalog of Highly Symmetric Tensegrity Structures
Bob Connelly and Bob Terrell enable access to a catalog of several hundred tensegrity structures that are held rigidly together with incompressible struts and inextendable cables connecting point nodes.
According to the site, "These structures are highly symmetric in the sense that there is a symmetry of the structure that takes any node to any other, there is a symmetry of the structure that takes any strut to any other, and there are two classes of cables, where there is a symmetry of the structure that takes any cable to any other in the same class."
Link: Highly Symmetric Tensegrity Structures Introduction Link: www.math.cornell.edu/~tens/pro.html
Dynamic Tensegrity Viewers by Burkhardt
Burkhardt hosts a series of Java dynamic viewer applications on his website. Burkhardt is a significant early researcher into tensegrity, and these simulators were advanced for their time. However, newer simulators include physics and shading. Burkhardt provides accurate vertex data sheets that might be useful to other programmers today.
List of Burkhardt's tensegrity viewers: http://www.trip.net/~bobwb/ts/tenseg/tview/index.html Link: Java1-Based Tensegrity Viewer Link: Java2D-Based Tensegrity Viewer
Interactive Application Tensegrity Modeling by Xozzox
From the website: "xozzox design and consulting Services support you in constructing, optimizing, and building tensegrity structures. This includes structure definition, form finding (taking into account the influence of gravity and realistic modelling of strut-cord joints), custom interactive visualizations, etc. We create virtual models and physical Tensegrity Objects using a diverse range of materials for struts and cords. "
Link: xozzox.com/objects.html
Springie Tensegrity Simulator by Tyler
Tyler's Springie is a Java 1.1 tensegrity simulator using Java, VRML and POV Ray. It allows simulation of four basic elements:
- Struts: Solid members which exert force when compressed
- Cables: These are tensile-only members - capable of resisting extension, but not compression
- Nodes: Joints, hubs and connectors
- Skins: These are membranes, capable of joining the gaps between struts
The simulation is performed in a virtual world with either two or three spatial dimensions. Forces simulated in Springie's universe include compressive and tensile forces, electrostatic attraction and repulsion, elastic collisions, gravity and friction. Models of physical objects can be dynamically edited and manipulated in this environment. Persistence of Springie's models is performed using XML.
Tyler also offers a low-bandwidth version of Springie - known as SprView. It runs as an applet and loads compressed model files from archives over the internet. SprView is intended for embedding tensegrity models in web pages.
Link: springie.com
Tensegrity Simulator by Tyler
Tyler's Tensegrity Simulator simulates the physics of mass-compression-tension structures and allows them to be manipulated interactively in real time from within a browser window. A number of structures are available to view - including some "hexagonal" domes - and some conventional geodesic structures. The physics simulation allows the shapes to be distorted and even smashed up "a process which gives some idea of the stability of the structures."
The simulator is written in Java, requiring version 1.1 or better.
Link: hexdome.com/simulator/
SpringDance Tensegrity Simulator by Ferguson
SpringDance by Alan Ferguson was a simple model builder based on Struck, the original EIG app by Gerald de Jong. It was written in Delphi for Windows only. It is no longer supported.