Tensile Tensegrity Structures

Skelton, Robert E.; Nagase, Kenji

doi:10.1260/0266-3511.27.2-3.131

Cited by 24 publications

(18 citation statements)

References 8 publications

(18 reference statements)

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“…Whilst there have been several concerted modelling efforts to relate silk’s structures to its mechanical properties [ 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 18 , 19 ], accounting for the precise contributions of each of these structural elements on a fibre’s mechanical response has been inconclusive. Consider, e.g., the role played by the interfaces between the fibrils, which some studies define as mechanically weak and responsible for easy slippage of adjacent fibrils [ 6 ], while other studies observe the presence of heterogeneous protrusions along such surfaces determining a non-slip kinematics and energy dissipation due to interlocking effects [ 20 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Tensegrity Modelling and the High Toughness of Spider Dragline Silk

et al. 2020

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This work establishes a tensegrity model of spider dragline silk. Tensegrity systems are ubiquitous in nature, being able to capture the mechanics of biological shapes through simple and effective modes of deformation via extension and contraction. Guided by quantitative microstructural characterization via air plasma etching and low voltage scanning electron microscopy, we report that this model is able to capture experimentally observed phenomena such as the Poisson effect, tensile stress-strain response, and fibre toughness. This is achieved by accounting for spider silks’ hierarchical organization into microfibrils with radially variable properties. Each fibril is described as a chain of polypeptide tensegrity units formed by crystalline granules operating under compression, which are connected to each other by amorphous links acting under tension. Our results demonstrate, for the first time, that a radial variability in the ductility of tensegrity chains is responsible for high fibre toughness, a defining and desirable feature of spider silk. Based on this model, a discussion about the use of graded tensegrity structures for the optimal design of next-generation biomimetic fibres is presented.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Tensegrity Modelling and the High Toughness of Spider Dragline Silk

et al. 2020

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“…Currently, mechanical models do not consider this radial structure present in the most extensively studied Nephila dragline silk, which is at odds with the widespread agreement that multiscale organization is integral to the fiber's characteristic tensile response (Nova et al, 2010;Giesa et al, 2011;Skelton and Nagase, 2012;López Barreiro et al, 2018;Yarger et al, 2018). A better dataset concerning the 3D mechanical properties and spatial distribution of different structural units within the silk will allow for better multi-scale mechanical models and will be important in successfully designing spider-silk mimicking fibers and polymers with tailored properties (Koeppel and Holland, 2017).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Revealing Spider Silk's 3D Nanostructure Through Low Temperature Plasma Etching and Advanced Low-Voltage SEM

et al. 2019

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The excellent mechanical properties of spider dragline silk are closely linked to its multiscale hierarchical structuring which develops as it is spun. If this is to be understood and mimicked, multiscale models must emerge which effectively bridge the length scales. This study aims to contribute to this goal by exposing structures within Nephila dragline silk using low-temperature plasma etching and advanced Low Voltage Scanning Electron Microscopy (LV-SEM). It is shown that Secondary Electron Hyperspectral Imaging (SEHI) is sensitive to compositional differences on both the micro and nano scale. On larger scales it can distinguish the lipids outermost layer from the protein core, while at smaller scales SEHI is effective in better resolving nanostructures present in the matrix. Key results suggest that the silks spun at lower reeling speeds tend to have a greater proportion of smaller nanostructures in closer proximity to one-another in the fiber, which we associate with the fiber's higher toughness but lower stiffness. The bimodal size distribution of ordered domains, their radial distribution, nanoscale spacings, and crucially their interactions may be key in bridging the length scale gaps which remain in current spider silk structure-property models. Ultimately this will allow successful biomimetic implementation of new models.

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“…Tensegrities are structures that form a stable volume in the space by combining a set of discontinuous compression components (struts) and continuous tensile components (cables) to define a stable volume in the space [23]. Such combination leads to the optimal strut-cable topology for minimal mass under tension, compression, and bending [48,49].…”

Section: Cabled-trussesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Hybrid optimization of cabled-trusses: Benchmarks for mechanical engineering

Finotto

Silva

Valášek

et al. 2015

Journal of Intelligent &Amp; Fuzzy Systems

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This paper proposes cabled-trusses benchmarks for mechanical engineering applications and provides suitable tools for modeling and optimization of cabled-trusses. These structures correspond to a system of cables and triangular bar formations jointed at their ends by hinged connections to form a rigid framework. The optimized cabled-truss is determined through a discrete optimization procedure that uses nonlinear finite element analysis, genetic algorithm, and fuzzy logic. In this work, planar and spatial trusses and cabled-trusses are optimized to achieve minimum weight designs. Also, the structural performance of the optimized structures is compared. In summary, the results show that cabled-trusses feature improvements over trusses.

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Tensile Tensegrity Structures

Cited by 24 publications

References 8 publications

Tensegrity Modelling and the High Toughness of Spider Dragline Silk

Tensegrity Modelling and the High Toughness of Spider Dragline Silk

Revealing Spider Silk's 3D Nanostructure Through Low Temperature Plasma Etching and Advanced Low-Voltage SEM

Hybrid optimization of cabled-trusses: Benchmarks for mechanical engineering

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