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2022

Self-folding Origami Structures

Mostafa Akbari, Andrej Kosmrlj, Masoud Akbarzadeh

Although one can design Shellular structures using Polyhedral Graphic Statics, the fabrication process of these structures might be time-consuming and labor-intensive. In order to fabricate these structures out of a flat sheet of material and automate the fabrication process, the research proposes a self-folding origami technique to fabricate shellular funicular structures out of a flat sheet of material. After designing the folding pattern of the geometry using a tuck-folding technique, the required forces for folding the pattern to the shellular structure are computed and the folding process is computationally simulated using a physically-based simulation technique. The method uses active materials to replicate the simulated behavior in the real world,  saving material, cost, and reducing the need for labor. This research has impacts on different fields in different scales from micro-scale cellular materials and tissue engineering to design and fabrication of buildings’ components in macro-scales.

Acknowledgments :

This research was supported by the National Science Foundation (NSF) Future Eco Manufacturing Research Grant (NSF, FMRG-CMMI 2037097) to Dr. Masoud Akbarzadeh.

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