Deployability Conditions for Curved and Flat,Polygonal and Trapezoidal Deployable Structures

Abstract

Prefabricated, deployable space frames that exhibit self-standing and stress-free states in both the deployed and collapsed configurations are investigated in this paper. This type of deployable structures shows considerable advantages as compared to previous designs that either required external stabilizing or had members with residual stresses in the deployed configuration.

Following previous developments for flat deployable structures consisting of units with regular-polygon planviews, this study deals with flat structures made of trapezoidals, and curved structures assembled from regular-polygonal units. First, the general geometric constraints and deployability conditions for these units are formulated, and a methodology for using these constraints as geometric design criteria is presented. Furthermore, additional conditions for the assemblage of single units into larger structures are given. Then, structural analysis issues for this type of structures are discussed. The necessity of nonlinear analysis during deployment is emphasized. Finally, the above geometric design procedures are demonstrated with specific examples.

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