On the nonlinear dynamics of spatial cellular tensegrities

It has been shown in [1] and [2] that the nonlinear mechanical response of one-dimensional assemblies of tensegrity modules is characterized by the presence of solitary waves and other nonlinear phenomena. In [3], numerical experiments carried out on two-dimensional periodic assemblies of tensegrity cells revealed that such lattices also supports the propagation of solitary waves. Here we extend that study by considering three-dimensional periodic assemblies of tensegrity cells. These cells have polyhedral shape with cables outside and bars inside, and they are assembled together by suspending one bar of a cell on the cables of an adjacent cell, so as to realize lattices characterized by a stiffening static response. We first present an exploration of the possible spatial tessellations which can be obtained in this way. Afterward, we discuss the simulated dynamic behavior of selected assemblies. References [1] Fraternali, F., Carpentieri, G., Amendola, A., Skelton, R.E., and Nesterenko, V.F., “Multiscale tunability of solitary wave dynamics in tensegrity metamaterials”, Applied Physics Letters, Vol. 105, 201903 (2014). [2] Davini,C.,Micheletti,A.,andPodio-Guidugli,P.,“OntheimpulsivedynamicsofT3tensegrity chains”, Meccanica, Vol. 51(11), pp. 2763-2776 (2016). [3] Micheletti, A., Paris, V., Pizzigoni, A., Ruscica, G. “Nonlinear cellular tensegrity materials”, presented at 23rd AIMETA Congress, Salerno, Italy, September 4-7, 2017