BAMBOO STRUT AND SISAL CABLE TENSEGRITY STRUCTURE FOOTBRIDGE

Resumo

This paper presents a study on the behavior of a pedestrian bridge tensegrity structure built
with natural materials. Initially, a prototype module of the structure is developed in a 1:25 scale. A
constructive method is proposed applying foldable techniques for assembly and disassembly procedures.
The methodology for the construction of the structure applied scaled models, from small to full-scale
models. Bamboo culms of Phyllostachys aurea species were employed for the struts (compressive
elements) and sisal ropes were selected for the cables (tensile elements). The modeling of the structure
is carried out using the software Galileo, a program for structural analysis of tensegrity structures
developed at PUC-Rio. Bar and cable elements were adopted to model the tensegrity footbridge. The
effect of the prestress of the cables on the structure is studied. A comparison between the computational
models considering a steel tensegrity structure and a bamboo strut and sisal cable net tensegrity structure
with regard to the stresses acting on the cables and the displacement of the mid-span. Finally, the use of
natural materials in civil engineering is evaluated regarding the mechanical performance of the structure.