Modeling and design of periodic lattices with tensegrity architecture and highly nonlinear response

In recent years, the nonlinear response of tensegrity systems has attracted increasing attention in the study of mechanical metamaterials. It has been shown in the literature that geometry and prestress of an elastic tensegrity structure can be designed to obtain different behaviors: stiffening, softening, and snap-through behavior in statics; propagation of solitary waves in dynamics. However, the realization of tensegrity systems is challenging, because of their prestressed state and the presence of tension-only cable members. A design method for periodic lattices with null prestress and no cables is here proposed, in which the repeating unit is at, or close to, a tensegrity configuration, maintaining the nonlinear types of response aforementioned. These structures can be realized by conventional additive manufacturing techniques, while the static and dynamic response can be predicted by means of stick-and-spring models.