Design and analysis of geodesic tensegrity structures with agriculture applications.

"This report aims to promulgate and elucidate the effective application of scientific principles in the design and optimisation of tensegrity structures for practical applications. By developing the intrinsic geometry of the geodesic dome and applying tensegrity design principles, a range of efficient, lightweight, modular structures are developed and broadly classified as geodesic tensegrity structures. Novel systems for clustering domes in two dimensions are considered and the analytical geometry required to generate various dome structures is derived from first principles. Computational methods for performing the design optimisation of tensegrity structures are reviewed and explained in detail. It is shown how an efficient, unified computational framework, suitable for the analysis of tensegrity structures in general, may be developed using computations which involve the equilibrium matrix of a structure. The importance of exploiting symmetry to simplify structural computations is highlighted throughout, as this is especially relevant in the analysis of large dome structures. A novel approach to generating the global equilibrium matrix of a structure from element vectors and implementing symmetry subspace methods is presented, which relies on the choice of an appropriate coordinate system to reflect the symmetry of a structure. A new algorithm is developed for implementing symmetry subspace methods in a computer program which enables the symmetry-adapted vector basis to be generated more efficiently. Methods for analysing kinematically indeterminate tensegrities and prestressed mechanisms and performing the prestress optimisation of a tensegrity structure are briefly reviewed and explained. Efficient tensegrity modular systems are developed for constructing a range of double-layer geodesic tensegrity domes and grids, based on the pioneering work of the artist, Kenneth Snelson. Finally, the cultural significance of tensegrity technology is illustrated by focusing on a range of novel applications in agriculture and sustainable development and adopting the holistic, "design science, "approach advocated by Buckminster Fuller.