Bio-inspired adaptable systems derived from nature on the basis of elastic kinematics are related to the design of material efficient structures in terms of self-weight minimization and adequate stiffness. The use of bending principles in primary structural components enables the achievement of a variety of initial geometries and their subsequent stabilization through prestress, as well as the capability of the members of sufficiently low thickness to undergo reversible deformations with low bending stresses. The cable bending-active structure presented in the current paper consists of two parallel series of bending-active PETG-members with initial inverted curvatures forming continuous elastic curvilinear elements, which are horizontally interconnected through cables. Following the construction design and manufacturing of the structural members, the load-bearing behaviour of the structure is investigated in a preliminary nonlinear static analysis with regard to the internal forces and deformation control, in order to achieve suitable prestress values of the cables and geometric characteristics of the bending-active members. The dual responsiveness of the prototype envisages providing an experiential component for the pedestrians and effective adaptability of the structure in its load-bearing behavior.

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Reconfigurable structural systems aim at spatial adaptability in respect to changing functional, aesthetic or other architecture-oriented objectives. At the same time, adaptive systems are called to reserve the structure's load-bearing capacity according to external loading criteria and scenarios. While pantograph structures have proven promising in these critical aspects, bending-active elements discard multiple local hinges and number of members by replacing them with single members of enhanced elastic bending deformability. This soft approach renders the possibility to form complex-, single-or double-curved primary structures from straight or planar members, providing in this respect an alternative framework to realize constructions of increased transformability and diversity in forms. The development of hybrid systems composed of bending-active members using secondary cables as means of stability and control, enables adjustability of the systems' form-found shape and deformation control. In the current paper, a hybrid cable bending active structure is investigated at the level of prototype unit and overall structure. On the horizontal plane, the unit consists of a pair of vertically oriented PTFE lamellas, interconnected at mid-length and deformed in inverse direction to form a curvilinear symmetric shape. Cable and strut elements stabilize the primary elastic members by connecting them at both ends in longitudinal and transverse direction, respectively. The overall structure acquires three arc-like configurations, controlled by the secondary system of cables and struts positioned at the periphery of the primary system's span. All systems are examined in their form-finding and load-bearing behaviour.

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