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We developed an articulated joint system for cable-connected and tensegrity structures. The system reduces the moments transmitted by the structure to the joints to virtually zero
About
We developed an articulated joint system for cable-connected and tensegrity structures. Through the use of articulated rod ends and strategically designed cable attachments, the system reduces the moments transmitted by the structure to the joints to virtually zero. In this way, the overall reliability of the joints in the structure is increased. In addition, joints incorporate a simple thread-based mechanism that allows for the fine calibration of tensile stresses on cables in the structure. This, in turn, permits tuning of the structure for a specific performance or functionality. Finally, the system has a modular design that simplifies its manufacturing process, deployment to a variety of geometries, and drastically reduces the associated costs. The system easily scales to a wide range of sizes, making it suitable for a very broad range of applications, including but not limited to, bridges, domes, space structures, wire-suspended architectural and design elements, and tensegrity structures.
Key Benefits
Present technologies for joining cable-based structures do not ensure that the centerlines of adjacent cables intersect at a single point, thus generating a net force moment at the joints. This, in turn, results on undesired shape changes of the resulting structure, and more importantly, on stress concentration at the joints. This stress concentration could lead to premature failure of the structure. In addition, the modular design of our joint system allows, with a single joint design, to accommodate joints with arbitrary number of incident cables. In current approaches, each node has to be designed individually according to the number of adjacent cables, which adds enormous complexity and cost to the design process of cable-based structures.
Applications
The range of commercial applications for the invention is very broad, as it applies to any structural system which has cable components. These cables could be either attached to the main structure, or be structural elements themselves. Among possible applications, the invention could be utilized on suspension bridges, cable stayed bridges, long span roof structures, domes, inflatable membrane roofs, cranes, railings, tensegrity structures, space structures such as antennas, satellites and landers, and architectural and aesthetic elements in buildings and public places, etc.