720.00 Basic Tensegrity Structures

720.01 In basic tensegrity structures, the spheric-tension network system is completely continuous. The ends of each compression member connect only with the tension network at various points on the tensional catenaries nearest to the respective ends of the system’s omni-islanded compression vector struts. The tension members running between the ends of the struts may be double or single. Double tension members best distribute the loads and most economically and nonredundantly accommodate the omnidistributive stress flows of the system. The catenaries always yield in obtuse or acute “V” shapes at their points of contact with the strut islands of compression.

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Fig. 717.01 Single and Double Bonding of Members in Tensegrity Spheres:

1. Negatively rotating triangles on a 270-strut tensegrity geodesic sphere with double-bonded triangles.

2. A 270-strut isotropic tensegrity geodesic sphere: single bonded turbo triangles forming a complex six-frequency triacontahedron tensegrity.

3. Complex of basic three-strut tensegrities, with axial alignment whose exterior terminals are to be joined in single bond as 90-strut tensegrity.

4. Complex of basic three-strut tensegrity units with exterior terminals now joined.

720.02 Conventional building with continuous compression and discontinuous tension is accustomed to fastening compression members to their buildings in shear, that is, in predictably, calculatable, “slide-by” pushing actions, where one force opposes another in parallel but opposite directions.

720.03 But in tensegrity structures, the tension members pull away from the compression strut ends, which the V-shape tension connections demonstrate. If two people take positions on opposite sides of a tensegrity sphere and pull on polarly opposite struts in opposite directions from one another, it will be seen that all around the sphere there is a uniform and symmetrical response to the opposite pulling (or pushing). Pulling on two opposite parts makes the whole sphere grow symmetrically in size, while pushing forces the whole sphere to shrink contractively and symmetrically. Cessation of either the pulling or the pushing causes the sphere to take its size halfway between the largest and smallest conditions, i.e., in its equilibrious size. This phenomenon is a typical four-dimensional behavior of synergetic intertransforming. It explains why it is that all local celestial systems of Universe, being cohered with one another tensionally, pull on one another to bring about an omniexpanding physical Universe.

720.10 Micro-Macro Structural Model: If you just tauten one point in a tensegrity system, all the other parts of it tighten evenly. If you twang any tension member anywhere in the structure, it will give the same resonant note as the others. If you tauten any one part, the tuning goes to a higher note everywhere in the structure. Until its tension is altered, each tensegrity structure, as with every chemical element, has its own unique frequency. In a two-sling tensegrity sphere, every part is nonredundant. If tension goes up and the frequency goes up, it goes up uniformly all over. As tensegrity systems are tautened, they approach but never attain rigidity, being nonredundant structures. Anything that we would call rigid, such as one of the atoms of a very high integrity pattern, is explained by this type of tensegrity patterning.

720.11 The kinetically interbalanced behaviors of tensegrity systems manifest discretely and elucidate the energy-interference-event patternings that integrate to form and cohere all atoms. The tensegrity system is always the equilibrious-balance phase, i.e., the omnipotential-energy phase visually articulate of the push-pull, in-out-and-around, pulsating and orbiting, precessionally shunted reangulations, synergetically integrated.

720.12 The circumferentially islanded tensegrity struts are energy vectors in action, and the tension lines are the energy tensors in action. Their omnisystem interpatterning shows how the circumferentially orbiting tensegrity struts’ lead ends are pulled by the center of mass of the next adjacent inwardly positioned vector strut. The mass attraction pulls inwardly on the lead ends of the precessionally articulating, self-orbiting, great-circle chord vector struts, thus changing their circumferential direction. They are precessionally and successively deflected from one tangent course to the next, circumferentially inward and onward, tangent vector course. Thus each of the vectors is successively steered to encircle the same tensegrity system center. In this manner, a variety of energy-interference, kinetic-equilibrium patterns results in a variety of cosmically local, self-regenerative, micro-macro structural systems such as atoms or star systems.