BASIC MATHEMATICAL FORM OF MICHELL STRUCTURE
Abstract
Michell structure is well known among tensegrity structures due to its optimization form and minimum mass of the
structure. Michell had adopted this idea from the results of James C Maxwell’s research on truss design. This paper
presents the basic mathematical model of Michell structure based on complexity order q=2 in the two-dimensional
coordinate system. This mathematical model imparts the analysis of all nodes and all members of Michell structure
and investigates their position to construct a stable Michell structure. This basic mathematical model of Michell structure
of complexity order q=2 can be used as a foundation to develop the Michell structure of high complexity orders.
Furthermore, the force density in each member of the structure has been studied. An expression to calculate the
minimum mass of structure has been defined at the end of this paper, which is the most important factor to construct
any kind of tensegrity structure.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
This work was supported by the National Natural Science
Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 51605111, 51675114
and 51875111).
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