Large-scale modular and uniformly thick origami-inspired adaptable and load-carrying structures
Abstract Existing Civil Engineering structures have limited capability to adapt their configurations for new functions, non-stationary environments, or future reuse. Although origami principles provide capabilities of dense packaging and reconfiguration, existing origami systems have not achieved de...
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Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2024-03-01
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Series: | Nature Communications |
Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-46667-0 |
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author | Yi Zhu Evgueni T. Filipov |
author_facet | Yi Zhu Evgueni T. Filipov |
author_sort | Yi Zhu |
collection | DOAJ |
description | Abstract Existing Civil Engineering structures have limited capability to adapt their configurations for new functions, non-stationary environments, or future reuse. Although origami principles provide capabilities of dense packaging and reconfiguration, existing origami systems have not achieved deployable metre-scale structures that can support large loads. Here, we established modular and uniformly thick origami-inspired structures that can deploy into metre-scale structures, adapt into different shapes, and carry remarkably large loads. This work first derives general conditions for degree-N origami vertices to be flat foldable, developable, and uniformly thick, and uses these conditions to create the proposed origami-inspired structures. We then show that these origami-inspired structures can utilize high modularity for rapid repair and adaptability of shapes and functions; can harness multi-path folding motions to reconfigure between storage and structural states; and can exploit uniform thickness to carry large loads. We believe concepts of modular and uniformly thick origami-inspired structures will challenge traditional practice in Civil Engineering by enabling large-scale, adaptable, deployable, and load-carrying structures, and offer broader applications in aerospace systems, space habitats, robotics, and more. |
first_indexed | 2024-04-24T23:06:21Z |
format | Article |
id | doaj.art-c5f877133db34259b3e366fe84046ae5 |
institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
issn | 2041-1723 |
language | English |
last_indexed | 2024-04-24T23:06:21Z |
publishDate | 2024-03-01 |
publisher | Nature Portfolio |
record_format | Article |
series | Nature Communications |
spelling | doaj.art-c5f877133db34259b3e366fe84046ae52024-03-17T12:30:34ZengNature PortfolioNature Communications2041-17232024-03-0115111110.1038/s41467-024-46667-0Large-scale modular and uniformly thick origami-inspired adaptable and load-carrying structuresYi Zhu0Evgueni T. Filipov1Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of MichiganDepartment of Mechanical Engineering, University of MichiganAbstract Existing Civil Engineering structures have limited capability to adapt their configurations for new functions, non-stationary environments, or future reuse. Although origami principles provide capabilities of dense packaging and reconfiguration, existing origami systems have not achieved deployable metre-scale structures that can support large loads. Here, we established modular and uniformly thick origami-inspired structures that can deploy into metre-scale structures, adapt into different shapes, and carry remarkably large loads. This work first derives general conditions for degree-N origami vertices to be flat foldable, developable, and uniformly thick, and uses these conditions to create the proposed origami-inspired structures. We then show that these origami-inspired structures can utilize high modularity for rapid repair and adaptability of shapes and functions; can harness multi-path folding motions to reconfigure between storage and structural states; and can exploit uniform thickness to carry large loads. We believe concepts of modular and uniformly thick origami-inspired structures will challenge traditional practice in Civil Engineering by enabling large-scale, adaptable, deployable, and load-carrying structures, and offer broader applications in aerospace systems, space habitats, robotics, and more.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-46667-0 |
spellingShingle | Yi Zhu Evgueni T. Filipov Large-scale modular and uniformly thick origami-inspired adaptable and load-carrying structures Nature Communications |
title | Large-scale modular and uniformly thick origami-inspired adaptable and load-carrying structures |
title_full | Large-scale modular and uniformly thick origami-inspired adaptable and load-carrying structures |
title_fullStr | Large-scale modular and uniformly thick origami-inspired adaptable and load-carrying structures |
title_full_unstemmed | Large-scale modular and uniformly thick origami-inspired adaptable and load-carrying structures |
title_short | Large-scale modular and uniformly thick origami-inspired adaptable and load-carrying structures |
title_sort | large scale modular and uniformly thick origami inspired adaptable and load carrying structures |
url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-46667-0 |
work_keys_str_mv | AT yizhu largescalemodularanduniformlythickorigamiinspiredadaptableandloadcarryingstructures AT evguenitfilipov largescalemodularanduniformlythickorigamiinspiredadaptableandloadcarryingstructures |