Coupled origami tubes for stiff deployable cantilevers

Evgueni T. Filipov, Tomohiro Tachi, Glaucio H. Paulino

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

3 Scopus citations

Abstract

Thin sheets folded into three dimensional origami structures can be useful in various engineering applications. This work explores the stiffness of deployable origami tubes used as cantilevers. A unique “zipper” configuration is used to couple the tubes, which makes the systems easy to deploy, yet stiff for other deformation modes. The self-restricting geometry of the coupled tubes limits local deformations and makes the systems stiff for out-of-plane loading. The global deployment characteristics are explored using eigenvalue band-gaps, and indicate that tubes with lower sector angles are easy to deploy yet also stiffer for unintended motions. Cantilever analyses show that the geometry of the coupled tubes can significantly affect the stiffness, with some tube combinations having a high orthogonal stiffness throughout deployment, while others only having a high stiffness when fully deployed. Parametric studies are used to show optimal geometries for the coupled tubes that maximize the eigenvalue band-gaps and the stiffness throughout the deployment. The coupled tubes could serve applications such as adjustable robotic arms, and deployable space booms with a reliable extension sequence.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publication43rd Mechanisms and Robotics Conference
PublisherAmerican Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME)
ISBN (Electronic)9780791859247
DOIs
StatePublished - 2019
Externally publishedYes
EventASME 2019 International Design Engineering Technical Conferences and Computers and Information in Engineering Conference, IDETC-CIE 2019 - Anaheim, United States
Duration: Aug 18 2019Aug 21 2019

Publication series

NameProceedings of the ASME Design Engineering Technical Conference
Volume5B-2019

Conference

ConferenceASME 2019 International Design Engineering Technical Conferences and Computers and Information in Engineering Conference, IDETC-CIE 2019
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityAnaheim
Period8/18/198/21/19

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Mechanical Engineering
  • Computer Graphics and Computer-Aided Design
  • Computer Science Applications
  • Modeling and Simulation

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