On the use of tensegrity structures in the non-linear dynamic regime

We investigate the theoretical and experimental response of additively manufactured tensegrity prisms under compression loading and different states of internal prestress. Spectra® strings are applied to the 3D printed models through a post-tensioning approach, which endows the structure with the desired prestress. Experimental tests highlight that the examined structures exhibit strongly nonlinear mechanical response under compression, which appears to be useful for the construction of a new class of nonlinear mechanical metamaterials featuring solitary wave dy-namics to be controlled by internal and external prestress.