Princeton Engineers Link Origami and Tensegrity Into Fantastic New Shapes

Princeton engineers link origami and tensegrity into fantastic new shapes

A termite mound does not look engineered. It rises in rough, uneven towers, full of crooked passages and shifting pockets of air, yet it can regulate temperature, manage airflow and stay standing in punishing conditions. Bone can do something similar. Its internal lattice looks irregular and disordered, but it carries weight, absorbs stress and holds together with surprising efficiency. That kind of structural messiness has long been hard for en…

Princeton researchers uncover hidden mathematical link between origami and structural design

Designing irregular structures often means wrestling with huge systems of equations. Princeton engineers have found a shortcut, using a mathematical bridge between origami and tensegrity to preserve known mechanical properties as a structure shifts into a more complex shape. Tensegrity is a structural principle where a continuous network of tension (cables or strings) and a… The post Princeton researchers uncover hidden mathematical link between…

Breakthrough math link lets engineers design complex shapes without heavy computation

A hidden mathematical connection between origami and structural engineering is opening a new path for designing complex, irregular shapes—without the usual computational burden. Researchers at Princeton University have demonstrated that two seemingly different systems—origami folding and tensegrity structures—are governed by the same underlying equations. This discovery allows engineers to bypass one of the biggest challenges […] The post Breakt…