Miura-Ori Inspired Smooth Sheet Attachments for Zipper-Coupled Tubes

Dylan C. Webb, Elissa Reynolds, Denise M. Halverson and Larry L. Howell
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Dylan C. Webb: Department of Mathematics, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT 84602, USA
Elissa Reynolds: Department of Mathematics, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT 84602, USA
Denise M. Halverson: Department of Mathematics, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT 84602, USA
Larry L. Howell: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT 84602, USA

Mathematics, 2022, vol. 10, issue 15, 1-15

Abstract: Zipper-coupled tubes are a broadly applicable, deployable mechanism with an angular surface that can be smoothed by attaching an additional smooth sheet pattern. The existing design for the smooth sheet attachment, however, leaves small gaps that can only be covered by adding flaps that unfold separately, limiting applicability in situations requiring a seamless surface and simultaneous deployment. We provide a novel construction of the smooth sheet attachment that unfolds simultaneously with zipper-coupled tubes to cover the entire surface without requiring additional actuation and without inhibiting the tubes’ motion up to an ideal, unfolded state of stability. Furthermore, we highlight the mathematics underlying the design and motion of the new smooth sheet pattern, thereby demonstrating its rigid-foldability and compatibility with asymmetric zipper-coupled tubes.

Keywords: zipper-coupled tubes; Miura-ori pattern; deployable mechanism; origami inspired design; smooth sheet attachment (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: C (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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