Flat-Pack Tubes Get a Strength Boost Inspired by Origami and Bamboo
Imagine a tube that can fold flat for storage but unfolds into a rigid, load-bearing structure. This is the promise of a new experimental design for flat-pack tubes, inspired by the principles of origami and the internal structure of bamboo.
Flat-pack tubesare already in use for a variety of applications, from pop-up emergency shelters and medical implants to deployable booms on solar arrays in space. Their ability toremain compact and space-saving until deployed is invaluable. However, their strength has always been a limitation, as the two transverse creases that allow them to fold flat also make them more susceptible to bending under pressure compared to traditional non-flat-packtubes.
Enter the arched crease origami tube design, developed by a research team at RMIT University in Australia. This innovative design utilizes a polymer tube that folds flat, but instead of being completely hollow, it incorporates a series oflaser-cut polyethylene discs within its interior. These discs possess a unique bistable property, meaning they can exist in two stable states.
When the tube is flattened, the discs are also flat. However, applying pressure on either side of the tube’s creases causes the discs to pop out into a curved state,pushing outwards on the tube’s inner wall. This not only fully inflates and expands the tube but also locks it in place, mimicking the internal structure of bamboo.
In a demonstration, the researchers constructed a 800 x 520 mm (31.5 x 20.5inches) platform using four of these tubes arranged side by side and a thin sheet. Despite weighing only 1.3 kg (2.9 lbs), the platform was strong enough to support a 75 kg (165 lbs) person, even when suspended like a bridge, without any deformation.
Thisgroundbreaking technology holds immense potential for various applications. Imagine deployable bridges, shelters, and even furniture that can be easily transported and assembled on demand. The combination of origami-inspired design and bio-inspired internal structure creates a flat-pack tube that is both lightweight and incredibly strong, opening up a world of possibilities for futureengineering and design.
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