The influence of self-stress on the behavior of tensegrity-like real structure

Full-scale tensegrity skeleton of White Rhino is considered in this paper. The influence of self-stress state on structure behaviour is studied. Few models that consist of 15, 16, 17 or 18 elements are analysed. For the models self-stress states and infinitesimal mechanisms are considered. The impact of the level of self-stress state on displacement is investigated. Moreover a failure of White Rhino is considered. The influence of a damage of one, two or three cables on displacements is examined. Analyses are performed using the second order theory in the Mathematica environment and the third order theory using the Sofistic program.