Structural behavior and design methods of Tensegrity domes

A comprehensive study on the structural behavior and structural types of Tensegrity domes is presented. The numerical analysis method of Tensegrity structure is also discussed. The first Tensegrity dome-Georgia Dome is analyzed as a prototype through a non-linear software using the numerical method presented in the paper. Based on the analysis, the structural behavior of the Tensegrity dome is summarized and therefore, some design methods for the Tensegrity dome are proposed. Based on the above studies, several new types of Tensegrity domes with different geometric grids are proposed by the author. A comparison of the structural behavior between the Georgia Dome and the domes proposed by the author is also made. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.