Experimental and numerical studies on the deployment process of self-locking cuboid foldable structural units

Abstract

Structural units are the basic components of self-locking foldable grid structures, and their spatial configurations have a vital influence on the structural performance of the overall grid. Research on the deployment process of structural units can help effectively control their stress level and achieve a rational self-locking capability for the units. Therefore, this article describes experimental and modeling studies on the deployment process of structural units and provides a reference for the establishment of numerical models and the design of structural units. The experimental results revealed that the self-locking capability of a structural unit is mainly determined by the bending moments of its members in the planes of the scissor-like elements. The method for adjusting the locations of the pivot endpoints at the radial bars is effective for improving the self-locking capacity, but the degree of adjustment must be strictly controlled to prevent large rotation at the inner lower hub joint. In addition, the feasibility of the modeling method was verified by comparing the experimental curves with the curves obtained by theoretical models.

Bias deployable grids with horizontal compound scissor-like elements: A geometric study of the folding/deployment process

“…Today, although they have not specifically focussed on their study, Roovers and De Temmermann 21,22 have established basic geometric conditions for the design of structures with bi-stable behaviour, Arnouts has led a detailed investigation into the deployment forces of these elements 23 –26 and Zhao et al 27 have studied ‘the experimental and simulated displacements and internal forces on the deployment process of self-locking cuboid foldable structural units’.…”