ABSTRACT
Chapter 3 focusses on tensegrity systems and their smart properties. It introduces the concept of smart systems, providing their definitions and classification. Smart structures are defined as structural systems with the ability to sense and respond in an adaptive way to changes in the surrounding environment, through the modification of their shape, stiffness or damping characteristics, with an aim to minimize deflection and possible damage. The second part of this chapter is focussed on the discussion on tensegrity systems, their definitions, advantages and disadvantages. It also presents examples of numerical analyses which prove that tensegrities exhibit a series of inherent properties, and therefore, can be regarded as smart structural systems. These properties include: self-control, self-diagnosis, self-repair, and self-adjustment. Presented examples are essential to understand the nature of tensegrity structures that is inextricably linked to the occurrence of infinitesimal mechanisms balanced with self-stress—the same characteristics that are responsible for extremal behaviour of these systems.
