BeTA_S [Biotensegrity Textile Assembly Surface]

BeTA_S pavilion is a 7 ft tall free-standing installation composed of 385 regular tetrahedron modules connected in series by bands of custom CNC knit, pre-stressed textiles. Each tetrahedron module is constructed of six elastically bent fiberglass rods joined at the endpoints by custom 3D printed connectors. The pavilion introduces a novel form-active catenary vault assembly consisting of a two-directional, double layered surface that produces a ‘closed kinetic chain’. 

The pavilion surface consists of 6 exterior and 5 interior knit textile bands each pretensioned by an array of 35 tetrahedron modules that are joined at the vertices to create a network of 3-way connections. Like animal vertebrae, the pavilion’s collection of pliant joints produces a resonant, elastically stable structure. Varying offset spacing between tetrahedron modules within the interior bands of the pavilion generate the curvature of the target catenary vault geometry.

A double layered knit fabric structure was developed to provide sufficient tensile resistance, and the fabric geometry and patterning crafted to reflect the form of the tensile forces necessary for prestressing. Hydrophobic yarn made from recycled plastic bottles was introduced to support both indoor and outdoor applications. 

Project Team

Diane Davis-Sikora, Professor, Kent State University | CAED
Rui Liu, PhD, Associate Professor, Kent State University | CAED
Linda Ohrn-McDaniel, Professor, Kent State University | School of Fashion
Oluwatobi Karim, B.S. ’22, Kent State University | CAED