Deployable Tensegrity Lunar Tower

Abstract

A tensegrity tower design to support a given payload for the moon mining operation is proposed in this paper. A non-linear optimization problem for the minimal-mass structure design is posed and solved, subject to the yielding constraints for strings and yielding and buckling constraints for bars in the presence of lunar gravity. The optimization variables for this non-linear problem are structural complexity and pre-stress in the strings. Apart from local failure constraints of yielding and buckling, global buckling is also considered. The structure designed as a deployable tower is a TnD1 tensegrity structure. A case study demonstrates the feasibility and advantage of the tower design. The principles developed in this paper are also applicable for building other structures on the Earth or other planets.