Tailorable Dynamic Characteristics of Cable-Reinforced Hexagonal Prism Tensegrity

Modularly assembled tensegrity structures represent a promising paradigm for future large-scale space infrastructure, where tailorable dynamic performance is essential for mission-critical applications. However, conventional hexagonal prism tensegrity systems suffer from insufficient structural stiffness, limiting their practical utility. This study introduces a cable-reinforced hexagonal prism tensegrity by strategically incorporating auxiliary cables baseline topology, significantly enhancing mechanical performance. Through Monte Carlo sampling, a wide range of prestress distributions satisfying self-equilibrium conditions were generated, enabling systematic analysis of the relationship between internal force configurations and structural stiffness. Modal analysis and numerical simulations reveal that the proposed design achieves an 80–128% improvement in structural stiffness, with natural frequency serving as the key metric. Furthermore, strong correlations between cable force summations and modal frequencies were established, highlighting the role of prestress distribution in regulating dynamic behavior. Wave propagation on assembled tensegrity beams demonstrates the ability to simultaneously tailor both fundamental frequency and group velocity via predefined prestress patterns. These findings provide a comprehensive framework for multidimensional control of wave dynamics in modular tensegrity systems, offering significant potential for advanced applications in space-borne structural design and vibration mitigation.