ABSTRACT
R. B. Fuller believed that tensegrity is ‘the rule of nature’. He thought that tensegrity structures are naturally optimal structural forms without testifying it. His belief has significant influence on his followers. Structural configurations composed of tensegrity simplexes include non-contiguous strut configurations and contiguous strut ones. Morphological studies widely spread out to express ultimately the impact of tensegrity concept on architecture. As structural building blocks, tensegrity simplexes can be used in various planar layouts. Non-contiguous strut configurations are different from ‘regular’ connection methods that simplexes are connected directly at vertex joints. On the contrary, tensegrity simplexes are connected in a node-to-cable way. There are basically two methods to form contiguous strut configurations for low tensegrity simplexes. One is the vertex-to-vertex connection. The other, as recommended by Motro, is the vertex-and-edge connection of simplexes. Geometrically rigid forms have better distribution of internal forces and thus avoid large values. This is beneficial as joint design and standardization of fabrication become easier.
