Home > Polyhedral toy > Tensegrity

Tensegrity structure is invented by Kenneth Snelson and named by R. Buckminstar Fuller.

Tensegrity structure is composed of tension(rubber band) and compression(rod).

Tension is connected but compression is not,it causes compression seems like floating in the air.
Tensegrity parts
The tensegrity in left photo resembles icosahedron but isn't icosahedron in a strict sense,because rod length equal just twice the distance of parallel rods.

Parts are only wood rods and rubber bands.

When you shift the rod position in bund,tensegrity shape becoms like tetrahedron.(left photo)

Tensegrity is known as an architecture structure but toy.
How ever they are not used so much in real architecture.

12 rods type

30 rods type


[Home] [Geometric toy] [Polyhedral toy] [Java Applet] [Links] [What's New]