Mass optimized self-actuated panels for several truss core topologies

Sandwich panels with truss cores offer possibilities for self-actuation.They are analyzed, with emphasis on mass optimal design for failureand stiffness.It is shown that introducing additional freedom in selectingthe topology of tetrahedral or pyramidal cores, by1) making the core units, or even all core members, disjoint, so varying the distance between core units becomes possible,2) using multiple layers,brings significant advantages.For some conditions, the performance of the modified panel becomesbetter by a factor of two, causing actuated truss core panels to performat least as well as, or even better than, panels with, \eg honeycomb cores,that do not easily allow core actuation.A special case of the analysis is the mass optimaldesign of panels with 3D-Kagom\'e truss units, which canbe regarded as a special geometry for a tensegrity prism.