New perspectives in architecture through transformable structures: A simulation study

Structures enabling transformability of buildings, components and materials at different levels gain significance in view a sustainable built environment. Such structures are capable obtaining shapes response to varying functional, environmental or loading conditions. Certain limitations classic tensegrity scissor-like structures, applied so far an architectural engineering context, attributed limited number possible configurations big actuators required. In this rigid-bar linkages offer promising alternative with regard constructability, modularity, control integration. achieving improved flexibility controllability reduced actuation devices, kinematics principle has been previously proposed by the authors that involves reduction system externally controlled one degree-of-freedom mechanism multistep transformation process. The paper presents application two classes transformable spatial linkage structure. Investigation was conducted using parametric associative design. is on torus-shaped structural composed planar interconnected linkages. Alternative motion sequences multiple steps can be implemented for stepwise adjustment joints their desired values. employed positioned ground supports detached from main body. Thus, minimum self-weight, simplicity energy consumption become possible. approaches design exemplified based selected sequence pattern. case study demonstrates high degree system.