A self-vibration-control tensegrity structure for space large-scale construction. (1st September 2022) - Tang, Yaqiong
Highlights: Tensegrity is equipped with active struts for self-vibration-control ability. Broadband vibration is suppressed effectively using the proposed control method. Resonant frequencies are pushed into higher frequency region by increasing pretensions. Local traveling waves is obtained by global displacement response. Both structure and control method can be expanded to large-scale construction. Abstract: Tensegrity is a very attractive structure due to its unique advantages of self-equilibrium, lightweight, small compression volume, and low control cost. However, both the shape and the dynamic behavior of tensegrity are susceptible to environmental change, which has limited the development of the structure in high-accuracy applications. We develop a self-vibration-control tensegrity structure for the space large-scale construction that requires high accuracy and shape retention ability. In the control algorithm, a wave spectrum element method is established first for the dynamic, wave, and power flow analysis of the self-vibration-control tensegrity structure, and the relationship between the global displacement response and the local traveling waves is revealed quantificationally. Then, the power flow vibration control method, which has great robustness and adaptability to the environment, is established using both centralized control strategy and distributed control strategy. Eventually, some numerical simulations and experimental investigations are carried out. The result shows that the vibration of the self-vibration-control tensegrity structure can be effectively suppressed in a wide frequency region. The result of this study can also be applied to other fields.