Title:
Knitted Tensile Membrane Tensegrity Helix-Tower

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Melnyk, Virginia Ellyn
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Abstract
This paper explores the development and research of knitted tensile membranes used within tensegrity structures. The research explores the historical context of tensegrity, as well as contemporary precedent projects. The final design explores a workflow and novel prototype for a tower using bending active helix-shaped rods connected and held in suspension with the knit membranes. This structure explores the possibilities for lightweight deployable construction methods, as well as the resulting structural integrity of tensegrity modules. The process of design and fabrication is a feedback loop between physical and digital models, at each phase scaling larger to create more precision and accuracy in design prediction. Furthermore, through this process designer’s intuition and knowledge about working with the materials is developed. The final design is lightweight and generates aesthetic qualities, which are representative of the distribution of forces on the material. The design resultantly creates a large volume and spatial presence for using very few materials.
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2023-03
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