On the use of tensegrity structures for kinetic solar facades of smart buildings

abstract

• 2015 IOP Publishing Ltd. We investigate the use of tensegrity structures with morphing and prestress-stability capabilities for the design of active solar faades of smart buildings. Morphing tensegrity lattices are used to design shading screens composed of umbrella-shaped 'eyes' that are opened and closed by adjusting the elongation in a limited number of cables. Prestressable lattices are instead employed to design superstable Venetian blinds that are composed of orientable slats. Future use of tensegrity solutions for next-generation smart buildings are outlined, with the aim of designing kinetic solar faades that combine morphing abilities with prestress-stability.

published proceedings

• Smart Materials and Structures

author list (cited authors)

• Fraternali, F., De Chiara, E., & Skelton, R. E.

citation count

• 30

complete list of authors

• Fraternali, F||De Chiara, E||Skelton, RE

publication date

• September 2015

publisher

• IOP Publishing  Publisher

published in

• Smart Materials and Structures  Journal

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

• 10.1088/0964-1726/24/10/105032

start page

• 105032

end page

• 105032

volume

• 24

issue

• 10

URL

• http://dx.doi.org/10.1088/0964-1726/24/10/105032