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this hexagonal grid structure can be viewed as a lattice of isolated hexagons which fold over and under each other without touching.
when viewed as a tensegrity it is a very simple structure made up of left and right handed 3 strut prisms.
as the hexagonal cells do not touch each other, they can be considered 'islands of compression in a sea of tension' to quote Buckminster Fuller.
the grid is sitting on a flat surface although it looks curved.
this image illustrates how the hexagon cells over lap, note that they are not linked like a chain.
from this angle it is easier to see that the hexagonal cells are separate.
the hexagonal cells are made from compression rods but they are not rigid as each joint connection is a pin joint which is free to swivel on all axis. it is the connecting strings which hold the cells together but also keep each cell apart.
this image is of an alternative grid arrangement which will also work. the very dense arrangement of struts would make this structure very strong.
the grid an be easily deformed into a dome shape.
due to the nature of tensegrity, the tensile forces in the assembly are contained and neutralised at the cellular level unlike traditional structures where the tensile forces are aggregated and transferred in total to the perimeter (or ground) to maintain rigidity.
this obviates the need for a continuous perimeter compression ring which is an essential part of current cable dome structures.
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