Abstract
The Weierstrass‘ theory of one-dimensional Lagrangian systems and a quasi-continuum approach are employed to study the propagation of solitary waves in tensegrity mass-spring chains, which exhibit softening-type elastic response in the large displacement regime and are subject to external pre-compression. The presented study analytically derives the shape of the traveling rarefaction pulses, and limiting values of the speeds of such pulses. Use is made of a tensegrity-like interaction potential that captures the main features of the real force-displacement response of the examined units. The Weierstrass approach is validated through numerical applications that establish comparisons between the theory developed in the present work and previous results available in literature.