Deployability, mechanical response, and energy harvesting capacity of a novel solar roof for sports stadiums

This study investigates the mechanical behavior and solar energy harvesting capabilities of a novel deployable tensegrity roof structure integrated with sun-tracking photovoltaic systems. An advancement of a recently introduced concept in stadium architecture is proposed for the design of new solar stadiums and the retrofitting of existing ones. The presented study begins with an examination of the kinematics and mechanical performance of a modular unit that serves as the foundational element of a deployable solar roof system. Owing to its high versatility, this module can be adapted to a variety of roof configurations. The study combines analytical investigation of the system’s kinematics with numerical simulations of its vibration modes and structural response under varying levels of cable pretension and wind loading. Finally, the research highlights the improved solar energy harvesting capacity of the system, made possible by the independent tilting of individual roof modules across a sports stadium. • Design of a novel deployable solar roof for sports stadiums. • Easily integrable with existing and new stadium structures. • Analysis of wind response in the deployed roof configuration. • Sun-tracking strategy with independent tilting per roof module. • Significant increase in energy harvesting capacity over previous solutions.