Optimization of tensegrity structures

This thesis presents a new approach to solve the optimization of articulated structures and especially looks into the performance of tensegrity systems compared to regular trusses. Volume is the objective to minimize and a wide range of constraints can be considered from the required mechanical constraints to more architectural ones. The resulting nonlinear non-convex mixed-integer optimization problem is approached with a twofold algorithm. A global genetic algorithm controls the connectivity and geometric variables while the cross-sectional area and prestress forces variables are dealt with an internal sequential quadratic programming algorithm. The performance of this approach is evaluated on a typical cantilever configuration.

Department dc:contributor.department

Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering.

Grantor dc:publisher

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Year dc:date.issued

2014

Author dc:creator

• Marzari, Quentin

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Pierre Ghisbain and Jerome J. Connor.

• Civil and Environmental Engineering.

Statement dc:rights

• M.I.T. theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. See provided URL for inquiries about permission.

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/7582

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/90026

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:dspace.mit.edu:1721.1/90026