JOINING TENSEGRITY SYSTEMS                                                               


Many of the systems described earlier 
are based on polyhedra, 
so they can be joined together 
in the same general formations 
as those polyhedra.
Ideas can often be tested 
relatively quickly 
by joining cardboard models 
of the polyhedra 
instead of the tensegrity systems themselves 
provided allowances are made 
for the distortion 
of the faces in the Tensegrity Systems. 
Tensegrity systems can either be joined 
so that the strut ends of one system 
touch the strut ends of adjacent figures 
or so that they do not.
Obviously, 
the former way of joining them 
will tend to produce arrangements 
which are more rigid. 
In either case, 
it may be necessary
to add tendons 
in order to stabilize the assembly. 
Once a set of figures 
have been joined, 
it may be possible 
to simplify the assembly 
by removing or replacing various components.
    
Both polyhedra and tensegrity systems 
can be joined in any one of three ways:

1. as a conglomeration of figures 
   whose volumes or surfaces 
   relate
   to one another in a special way, 
   such as an arrangement 
   looking 
   like a cluster of soap bubbles;
             
2. as a long slender structure such as a mast or a truss; 

   and
             
3. as a grid or skeletal type of structure.

The conglomeration of Tensegrity systems (1) 
are the hardest to arrange
because of the distortions 
and the enantiomorphism of the individual figures. 

The long slender structures (2) 
are much easier to design. 

The grids and skeletal arrangements (3) 
are the most interesting.
It is best to use the smaller, 
simpler systems for these arrangements, 
as so many figures are required. 
In some cases, 
some of the tensegrity
figures can be omitted 
from the assembly producing voids in the figures. 
3 strut octahedra can be joined together, 
edge to edge, 
like the octahedra 
of the close packing arrangement 
of the octahedra and tetrahedra. 
The octahedra can be arranged 
in a single layer or in several layers. 
Extra Tetrahedrons are usually not needed 
to stabilize the arrangement.
Some octahedra can be omitted, 
especially in the multi-layer arrangements
to produce more open arrangements of tensegrity figures.

CONSTRUCTION OF LARGE FIGURES IN GENERAL

When building larger figures, 
factors such as tolerances and weight 
which are of little consequence with smaller models, 
can be critical.
Construction techniques are important, 
as the loads on the members 
may be greater during assembly 
than they are once a figure is completed.
Junctions between members 
must be carefully designed 
so that they are not sources of weakness. 
a final concern with larger figures 
is to allow
sufficient working space for erection of the structure. 
On the other hand, 
one advantage of the larger figures 
is that with them 
it is easier to use such devices as turnbuckles 
to permit the adjustment of
the sizes of the components.

 The following describes some larger figures 
and some of the problems one can encounter with them.

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