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Multistable inflatable origami structures at the metre scale

Nature volume 592, pages 545–550 (2021)Cite this article

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Abstract

From stadium covers to solar sails, we rely on deployability for the design of large-scale structures that can quickly compress to a fraction of their size1,2,3,4. Historically, two main strategies have been used to design deployable systems. The first and most frequently used approach involves mechanisms comprising interconnected bar elements, which can synchronously expand and retract5,6,7, occasionally locking in place through bistable elements8,9. The second strategy makes use of inflatable membranes that morph into target shapes by means of a single pressure input10,11,12. Neither strategy, however, can be readily used to provide an enclosed domain that is able to lock in place after deployment: the integration of a protective covering in linkage-based constructions is challenging and pneumatic systems require a constant applied pressure to keep their expanded shape13,14,15. Here we draw inspiration from origami—the Japanese art of paper folding—to design rigid-walled deployable structures that are multistable and inflatable. Guided by geometric analyses and experiments, we create a library of bistable origami shapes that can be deployed through a single fluidic pressure input. We then combine these units to build functional structures at the metre scale, such as arches and emergency shelters, providing a direct route for building large-scale inflatable systems that lock in place after deployment and offer a robust enclosure through their stiff faces.

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Fig. 1: Triangular facets as building blocks for large-scale inflatable and bistable origami structures.
Fig. 2: Bistable and inflatable origami shapes.
Fig. 3: Metre-scale inflatable archway.
Fig. 4: Metre-scale inflatable shelter.

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Data availability

The datasets generated or analysed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

Code availability

The code generated during the current study is available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

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Acknowledgements

We thank E. Demaine, J. Ku, T. Tachi and Yunfang Yang for insightful discussions; S. Lindner-Liaw, M. Bhattacharya and M. Starkey for assistance in the fabrication of the centimetre-scale and large-scale structures; and A. E. Forte for his valuable comments and suggestions on the manuscript. This research was supported by NSF through the Harvard University Materials Research Science and Engineering Center grant number DMR-1420570 and DMREF grant number DMR-1922321, as well as the Fund for Scientific Research-Flanders (FWO).

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Author notes

  1. These authors contributed equally: David Melancon, Benjamin Gorissen

Authors and Affiliations

  1. J. A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA

    David Melancon, Benjamin Gorissen, Carlos J. García-Mora & Katia Bertoldi

  2. Department of Building Structures and Geotechnical Engineering, University of Seville, Seville, Spain

    Carlos J. García-Mora

  3. Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA

    Chuck Hoberman & Katia Bertoldi

  4. Hoberman Associates, New York, NY, USA

    Chuck Hoberman

  5. Graduate School of Design, Cambridge, MA, USA

    Chuck Hoberman

  6. Kavli Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA

    Katia Bertoldi

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Contributions

D.M., B.G., C.H. and K.B. proposed and developed the research idea. D.M. conducted the numerical calculations. D.M., B.G. and C.J.G.-M. designed and fabricated the centimetre-scale and metre-scale structures. D.M. performed the experiments. D.M., B.G. and K.B. wrote the paper. K.B. supervised the research.

Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Chuck Hoberman or Katia Bertoldi.

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The authors declare no competing interests.

Additional information

Peer review information Nature thanks Larry Howell, Glaucio Paulino and the other, anonymous, reviewer(s) for their contribution to the peer review of this work. Peer reviewer reports are available.

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Supplementary information

Supplementary Information

This file contains Supplementary Information, including Supplementary Figures 1-30 and additional references.

Supplementary Video 1

Fabrication of centimetre-scale structures. To realize centimetre-scale structures, we use two different methods based on cardboard and 3D-printed faces. In the first method, we assemble laser-cut cardboard facets with double-sided adhesive tape to form the hinges. In the second approach, we connect 3D-printed faces with flexible laser-cut sheets to form the hinges and coat the structures with a thin layer of silicone rubber to create an airtight cavity.

Supplementary Video 2

Inflatable and bistable origami shapes. In an attempt to design inflatable origami structures with flat and expanded stable configurations, we create a library of shapes realized by assembling two different triangles.

Supplementary Video 3

Multistable inflatable origami structures at the metre-scale. By combining our library of bistable origami shapes, we build metre-scale structures that (i) transform from a compact shape to an expanded one; (ii) deploy and retract through a single pressure input; (iii) harness multistability to lock in place after deployment; and (iv) provide a robust enclosure through their stiff faces.

Supplementary Video 4

Fabrication of the metre-scale shelter. The metre-scale shelter is fabricated out of 8 ft × 4 ft, 4-mm-thick, corrugated plastic sheets. We use a digital cutting system to cut the different parts of the shelter and pattern the hinges by scoring the sheets to reduce the thickness locally. To create an inflatable cavity, we connect the cut parts with adhesive tape.

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Melancon, D., Gorissen, B., García-Mora, C.J. et al. Multistable inflatable origami structures at the metre scale. Nature 592, 545–550 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-021-03407-4

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