A Single Die-Cut Element for Transformable Structures

Abstract

Any polyhedral structure composed of identical regular polygons can be turned into an expandable structure by replacing the polygons by pairs of polygons which can rotate about a common central hinge, and connecting a vertex of an upper polygon with the vertex of a lower polygon of an adjacent pair. Most of these structures will collapse in the fully expanded position by losing their rigidity near the final stage, and hence, become deployable. A triangular element which enables one to assemble and dismantle such structures is presented here, together with a series of examples of experimental shapes.