Engineering Commons^™

Methods For Designing Compact And Deployable Origami-Inspired Flat-Foldable Spacecraft Antennas And Other Systems, Collin Ryan Ynchausti

Theses and Dissertations

There are times when it is desirable for devices to be stowed compactly, ``transported'' to the location of their desired use, and then deployed to another stable shape or configuration to perform their designed function. Origami-based mechanisms are beneficial in these cases due to their compact, folded nature and large deployments. Unlike traditional mechanical design, compliant mechanism and origami-based design approaches inherently have coupled characteristics, creating complex design problems. The research presented here discusses metrics, methods, and designs to aid in the design of origami-adapted and compliant mechanisms, focusing on the design case of deployable space systems. First, the hexagonal …

A Model For Multi-Input Mechanical Advantage In Origami-Based Mechanisms, Jared Butler, Adam Shrager, Timothy Simpson, Landen Bowen, Mary Frecker, Robert Lang, Eric Wilcox, Paris Von Lockette, Larry L. Howell, Spencer P. Magleby

Faculty Publications

Mechanical advantage is traditionally defined for single input and single-output rigid-body mechanisms. A generalized approach for identifying single-output mechanical advantage for a multiple-input compliant mechanism, such as many origami-based mechanisms, would prove useful in predicting complex mechanism behavior. While origami-based mechanisms are capable of offering unique solutions to engi neering problems, the design process of such mechanisms is complicated by the interaction of motion and forces. This paper presents a model of the mechanical advantage for multi input compliant mechanisms and explores how modifying the parameters of a model affects their behavior. The model is used to predict the force-deflection …

Origami-Inspired Sacrificial Joints For Folding Compliant Mechanisms, Todd G. Nelson, Alex Avila, Larry L. Howell, Just L. Herder, Davood Farhadi Machekposhtic

Faculty Publications

Folding is a manufacturing method which can create complex 3D geometries from flat materi- als and can be particularly useful in cost-sensitive or planar-limited fabrication applications.

This paper introduces compliant mechanisms that employ folding techniques from origami to evolve from a flat material to deployed state. We present origami-inspired sacrificial joints, joints which have mobility during assembly of the mechanism but are rigid in their final position, to create regions of high and low stiffness and the proper alignment of compliant flexures in folded mechanisms. To demonstrate the method we fold steel sheet to create some well-known and complex compliant …

Normalized Coordinate Equations And Energy Method For Predicting Natural Curved-Fold Configurations, Jacob Badger, Todd G. Nelson, Rober J. Lang, Denise M. Halverson, Larry L. Howell

Faculty Publications

Of the many valid configurations that a curved fold may assume, it is of particular interest to identify natural—or lowest energy—configurations that physical models will preferentially assume. We present normalized coordinate equations—equations that relate fold surface properties

to their edge of regression—to simplify curved-fold rela- tionships. An energy method based on these normalized

coordinate equations is developed to identify natural con- figurations of general curved folds. While it has been noted

that natural configurations have nearly planar creases for curved folds, we show that non-planar behavior near the crease ends substantially reduces the energy of a fold.

Origami-Based Design Of Conceal-And-Reveal Systems, Bryce P. Defigueiredo, Kyler A. Tolman, Spencer P. Magleby, Nathan A. Pehrson, Erica Crampton, Larry L. Howell

Faculty Publications

This work introduces a type of motion termed “conceal-and-reveal” which is characterized by a state that protects a payload, a state that exposes the payload, and coupled motions between these two states. As techniques for thick, rigid origami-based engineering designs are being developed, origami is becoming increasingly more

attractive as inspiration for complex systems. This paper proposes a process for designing origami-based conceal- and-reveal systems, which can be generalized to design similar thick, rigid origami-based systems. The process

is demonstrated through the development of three conceal-and-reveal systems that present a luxury product to the consumer. The three designs also confirm …

Development Of An Origami Inspired Composite Deployable Structure Utilizing Compliant Joints As Surrogate Folds, Samuel Porter Smith

Theses and Dissertations

This work presents the design and construction of a self-deployable, self-stiffening,and retractable (SDSR) space array from carbon fiber reinforced polymers (CFRP’s) and a working prototype is demonstrated. The effort required developing principles for the design of high-strain composite flexural joints and their integration into angled composite panels. Designing LET arrays in angled panels is explored. Analysis of simple composite LET joints is presented for two degrees of freedom. Validation of the composite LET modeling is sought through numerical methods and empirical testing. Testing of several composite LET joint specimens is conducted and the results are reported. Results indicate that (while …

Incorporating Stability In Deployable Origami-Based Engineering Applications, David Wayne Andrews

Theses and Dissertations

For origami-based designs to be functional, they need to be stable. Typically, stability is achieved through the introduction of exterior supports or members. This work focuses on incorporating stability into deployable origami-based engineering applications, including the development of deployable stiffeners or hard stops and generating concepts for stable origami-based systems in specific applications. Two types of deployable stiffeners are developed. Models for transcrease hard stops are presented, which can be directly implemented into origami-patterns to block motion at a specified angle. Thickness Utilizing Deployable Hard Stops (ThUDS), adapted from the transcrease hard stop models, can be implemented into thick materials …

Enabling Compact Devices Through Origami And Developable Mechanisms, Jacob Ryan Greenwood

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis provides resources that enable the design of novel and compact mechanical devices by providing terminology, engineering models, and design methods in the fields of developable mechanisms and origami-based engineering.The first part of this work presents engineering models to aid in the design of cylindrical developable mechanisms. These models take into account the added spatial restrictions imposed by the developable surface. Equations are provided for the kinematic analysis of cylindrical developable mechanisms. A new classification for developable mechanisms is also presented (intramobile, extramobile, and transmobile) and two graphical methods are provided for determining this classification for single-DOF planar cylindrical …

Heat Set Creases In Polyethylene Terephthalate (Pet)Sheets To Enable Origami-Based Applications, Larry L. Howell, Nathan C. Brown, Brandon S. Sargent, Brian D. Jensen, Spencer P. Magleby, William G. Pitt

ScholarsArchive Data

This data set includes the raw data from the tests described in the research paper “Heat Set Creases in Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) Sheets to Enable Origami-Based Applications” by Brandon Sargent, Nathan Brown, Brian D. Jensen, Spencer P. Magleby, William G. Pitt, and Larry L. Howell.

Origami-Based Design Of Fold States And Stability, Alex Avila

Theses and Dissertations

Origami is a potentially elegant and powerful source of inspiration for many engineering designs. The viable shapes (fold states) of a single device allow it to perform multiple, seemingly contradictory, functions. The fold state is a large factor in the device's performance, but there are challenges in selecting and maintaining those fold states. In this thesis we analyze existing concepts for overcoming these challenges. Those concepts are compared with those that occur in origami-based devices. From this analysis fundamental gaps were identified, specifically, shortcoming in the terminology used to refer to (1) non-flat origami states and (2) sets of facets …

Origami-Based Deployable Ballistic Barrier, Kenny Seymour, Dakota Burrow, Alex Avila, Terri Bateman, David C. Morgan, Spencer P. Magleby, Larry L. Howell

Faculty Publications

This paper demonstrates how recent developments in origami crease pattern adaptation, surrogate folds, and thickness accommodation techniques enabled development of an origami-based deployable ballistic barrier. The barrier crease pattern was employed using the membrane-fold technique for surrogate folds and to assist in thickness accommodation. A proof-of-concept barrier was fabricated and tested, demonstrating ballistic resistance, a large deployment ratio, and rapid deployment times.

Methods For Creating Rigid Foldability In Origami-Inspired Deployable Mechanisms, Alden Daniel Yellowhorse

Theses and Dissertations

Because origami has proved to be a tremendously rich source of inspiration in engineering, interest in solving some of the challenges that affect origami-inspired design has been significant. One such challenge involves ensuring that origami-inspired mechanisms are rigid-foldable or capable of moving without requiring links to bend or distort. Because rigid-foldability is essential in mechanisms that are constructed using rigid materials, access to methods of engineering this characteristic are highly desirable. This research addresses this need by developing methods for the design of origami-inspired mechanisms that are rigid-foldable. Methods for modifying crease patterns to achieve this are described and compared. …

Augmented Design Capabilities For Origami Tessellations, Janette Darlene Herron

Theses and Dissertations

Applying engineering principles to tessellation origami-based designs enables the control of certain design properties, such as flexibility, bending stiffness, mechanical advantage, shape conformance, and deployment motion. The ability to control these and other properties will enable augmented design capabilities in environments which currently limit the design to specific materials, including space, medicine, harsh environments, and scaled environments (such as MEMS applications). Other applications will be able to achieve more complex motions or better satisfy design and performance requirements.This research demonstrates augmented design capabilities of origami tessellations in engineering design in rigid-foldable and non-rigid-foldable applications. First, a method to determine Poisson's …

Art To Engineering: Curved Folding And Developable Surfaces In Mechanism And Deployable Structure Design, Todd G. Nelson

Theses and Dissertations

This work investigates how curved-crease origami and the developable surfaces which compose it can be transitioned to engineering design. Methods for creating flexible, tailorable-property surfaces that function as thick panels in place of paper are presented. Concepts from curved-crease origami and developable surfaces that can describe and extend engineering applications are discussed and demonstrated. These concepts are particularly beneficial to applications where curved surfaces are integral to the function, deployability is desired, and planar manufacturing could be beneficial.The first part of this work uses arrays of compliant elements to create flexible-tailorable property surfaces. The key feature to these arrays is …

Using Collapsible Systems To Mitigate Buckling In Thin Flexible Instruments In Robotic Surgery, Brandon Scott Sargent

Theses and Dissertations

Robotic surgery procedures may include long, thin flexible instruments that are inserted by the robot into the patient. As the robot inserts these devices, due to their geometry, they are prone to buckling failure. To mitigate buckling failure, a support system is needed on the robot. This system supports the device but also adapts to the varying ex vivo length of the device as it is inserted. This work presents four collapsible support systems designed to mitigate buckling failure of long, thin instruments while accounting for changing length. The Ori-Guide is an origami-inspired system that has enabled a part reduction …

Developing New Classes Of Thick-Origami-Based Mechanisms: Conceal-And-Reveal Motion And Folding Printed Circuit Boards, Bryce Parker De Figueiredo

Theses and Dissertations

Origami-adapted mechanisms form the basis of an increasing number of engineered systems. As most of these systems require the use of non-paper materials, various methods for accommodating thickness have been developed. These methods have opened new avenues for origami-based design. This work introduces approaches for the design of two new classes of thick-origami systems and demonstrates the approaches in hardware. One type of system, called "conceal-and-reveal,'' is introduced, and a method of designing these mechanisms is developed. Techniques are also developed for designing folding printed circuit boards which are fabricated from a single sheet of material. This enables areas of …

Highly Compressible Origami Bellows For Harsh Environments, Jared J. Butler

Theses and Dissertations

The use of origami-based bellows is of interest in fields where traditional metal bellows are incapable of meeting compression, mass, or flexibility constraints. Metal bellows are often used in space applications but frequently complicate spacecraft design. Origami-based bellows capable of meeting design constraints while adequately shielding sensitive spacecraft parts may be advantageous to space mechanism design. The design and testing of a highly compressible origami bellows for harsh environments is described. Several origami patterns were evaluated and the Kresling fold pattern was designed to meet constraints and selected for use in the bellows design. Origami bellows were prototyped in five …

Considering Manufacturing In The Design Of Thick-Panel Origami Mechanisms, Erica Brunson Crampton

Theses and Dissertations

Origami has been investigated and demonstrated for engineering applications in recent years. Many techniques for accommodating the thickness of most engineering materials have been developed. In this work, tables comparing performance and manufacturing characteristics are presented. These tables can serve as useful design tools for engineers when selecting an appropriate thickness-accommodation technique for their application. The use of bent sheet metal for panels in thick-origami mechanisms shows promise as a panel design approach that mitigates several trade-offs between performance and manufacturing characteristics. A process is described and demonstrated that can be employed to use sheet metal in designs of origami-adapted …

Developing Hybrid Thickness-Accommodation Techniques For New Origami-Inspired Engineered Systems, Kyler Austin Tolman

Theses and Dissertations

Origami has become a source of inspiration in a number of engineered systems. In most systems, non-paper materials where material thickness is non-negligible is required. In origami-inspired engineered systems where thickness is non-negligible, thickness-accommodation techniques must be utilized to overcome the issue of self-intersection. Many thickness-accommodation techniques have been developed for use in thick-origami-inspired-engineered systems. In this work several thickness-accommodation techniques are reviewed and discussed. New thickness-accommodation techniques including hybrid thickness-accommodation techniques and the split vertex technique are presented and discussed. These techniques enable new capabilities of thickness-accommodation in origami adapted design. Thickness-accommodation techniques have been developed in the context …

Origami: Numerical Solutions Of Apparent Absorptivity In Origami Folds, Michael Farnsworth, Brian Iverson

Journal of Undergraduate Research

There are three major types of heat transfer: conduction, convection, and radiation. In many cases, radiation is ignored due to the fact that the amount of heat transferred by this method tend to be small compared to conduction and convection. However, in space and in some settings on earth, radiation is dominant and important. Absorptivity is a measure of an object’s ability to absorb radiation, and apparent absorptivity is a measure of how the shape of an object affects the amount of radiation that it absorbs. For example, if you were to shine a flashlight on a mirror, the light …

Towards Developing Product Applications Of Thick Origami Using The Offset Panel Technique, Michael R. Morgan, Robert J. Lang, Spencer P. Magleby, Larry L. Howell

Faculty Publications

Several methods have been developed to accommodate for the use of thick materials in origami models which preserve either the model’s full range of motion or its kinematics. The offset panel technique (OPT) preserves both the range of motion and the kinematics while allowing for a great deal of flexibility in design. This work explores new possibilities for origami-based product applications presented by the OPT. Examples are included to illustrate fundamental capabilities that can be realized with thick materials such as accommodation of various materials in a design and manipulation of panel geometry resulting in an increased stiffness and strength. …

Dynamic Control Of Radiative Surface Properties With Origami-Inspired Design, Rydge B. Mulford, Matthew R. Jones, Brian D. Iverson

Faculty Publications

Thermal management systems for space equipment commonly use static solutions that do not adapt to environmental changes. Dynamic control of radiative surface properties is one way to respond to environmental changes and to increase the capabilities of spacecraft thermal management systems. This paper documents an investigation of the extent to which origami-inspired surfaces may be used to control the apparent absorptivity of a reflective material. Models relating the apparent absorptivity of a radiation shield to time-dependent surface temperatures are presented. Results show that the apparent absorptivity increases with increasing fold density and indicate that origami-inspired designs may be used to …

Rigidly Foldable Origami Gadgets And Tessellations, Thomas A. Evans, Robert J. Lang, Spencer P. Magleby, Larry L. Howell

Faculty Publications

Rigidly foldable origami allows for motion where all deflection occurs at the crease lines and facilitates the application of origami in materials other than paper. In this paper, we use a recently discovered method for determining rigid foldability to identify existing flat-foldable rigidly foldable tessellations, which are also categorized. We introduce rigidly foldable origami gadgets which may be used to modify existing tessellations or to create new tessellations. Several modified and new rigidly foldable tessellations are presented.

An Approach For Designing Origami-Adapted Products With Aerospace Mechanism Examples, Jessica Morgan

Theses and Dissertations

The objective of this research is to develop a design process for origami-adapted products and demonstrate it using aerospace mechanism examples. Origami-adapted design is a type of origami-based design. Origami-based design ranges from abstract to concrete applications of origami to design and includes: origami-inspired design, origami-adapted design, and origami-applied design. Origami-adapted design adapts origami fold patterns into products while preserving functionality. Some of the desirable attributes of origami that are sought after in design include: 1) reduced number of parts, 2) stowability, 3) deployability, 4) transportability, 5) manufacturability from a flat sheet of material, 6) ease of miniaturization, 7) a …

Curved-Folding-Inspired Deployable Compliant Rolling-Contact Element (D-Core), Todd Nelson, Robert Lang, Spencer P. Magleby, Larry L. Howell

Faculty Publications

This work describes a deployable compliant rolling-contact element joint (DCORE joint) that employs curved-folding origami techniques to enable transition from a flat to deployed state. These deployable joints can be manufactured from a single sheet of material. Two fundamental configurations of the D-CORE are presented. The first configuration allows for motion similar to that of a Jacob’s ladder when the joint is in a planar state while achieving the motion of a CORE when in the deployed state. The second configuration constrains all degrees of freedom to create a static structure when the joint is in the planar state and …

Using The Offset Panel Technique To Develop Innovative Origami-Based Applications, Michael Robert Morgan

Theses and Dissertations

Origami, the art of folding paper, was once only an art form. In recent years, it has collided with the world of engineering and is acting as a source of inspiration for solutions to various engineering problems. Paper, the typical material used in the art form, is thin and works well for origami, but is not often suitable for use in engineering. Researchers have developed a handful of methods for accommodating thick/rigid materials in origami design. Most of these preserve only the kinematics of the model or its range of motion. Not only does the offset panel technique (OPT) preserve …

Deployable And Foldable Arrays Of Spatial Mechanisms, Thomas Evans

Theses and Dissertations

This work evaluates a specific origami device known as the kaleidocycle and the broad classof rigidly foldable origami. Both of these have potential for application in the design of deployableand foldable arrays of spatial mechanisms.Origami is considered a compliant mechanisms because it achieves its motion through thedeflection of paper creases. Compliant mechanisms generally do not allow for continuous rotation;however, the compliant kaleidocycle represents an exception to this generality. Along with theirability to rotate continuously, kaleidocycles may also be designed to exhibit multistable behaviorduring this rotation. These two characteristics make the kaleidocycle an interesting device withpotential for applications in engineering. This …

Development Of A Thickness Accommodation Technique For Origami-Inspired Design, Bryce Edmondson

Theses and Dissertations

Designers are constantly searching for new sourcing of inspiration for innovative design. Recently, origami has gained interest as one of these potential sources. Origami literally translated from Japanese means “paper folding” where “oru” means “to fold” and “kami” means “paper”. Since paper is insufficient to solve many engineering design problems, designers must turn to other materials. These materials will inevitably be thicker than paper and will often require different folding techniques and considerations. This thesis provides background information describing previous methods to accommodate thickness in origami-inspired design, presents a newly developed technique to address limitations of other methods, and explores …

Design Considerations In The Development And Actuation Of Origami-Based Mechanisms, Eric W. Wilcox

Theses and Dissertations

Origami-based mechanisms have unique characteristics that make them attractive for engineering applications. However, origami-based design is still a developing area of design. Continued work to increase general understanding of key design parameters specific to origami-based mechanisms will increase the ability of designers to capture the potential benefits of origami-based mechanisms. This thesis presents a fundamental study of origami to assist designers in gaining a stronger understanding of the key parameters and capabilities of origami-based mechanisms. As a starting point a study of fundamental motions in action origami models (those that exhibit motions in their folded state) is presented to explore …

Elastic Energy Absorption Via Compliant Corrugations, Sean S. Tolman

Theses and Dissertations

Elastic absorption of kinetic energy and distribution of impact forces are required in many applications. This may be achieved through the use of compliant corrugations. An innovative padding concept is investigated for such applications. Also, recent attention given to the potential for using origami in engineering applications may provide new corrugation configurations that are advantageous for energy absorption and force distribution. This work explores three areas related to these concepts.First, the parameters of a compliant, corrugated padding concept are investigated using Finite Element Analyses (FEA) and physical testing. The shape of the corrugation cross section is explored as well as …