Deployable Structures: Concepts and Explorations

Deployable structures can expand and contract due to their geometrical arrangement and mechanical joinery in such a way that they can adapt to different usages. They can fold, reduce in size and fit into a limited space when not in use; when required, these structures, can be deployed to serve their intended purpose. This studio emphasized on learning the concept of deployable structures through origami techniques and kinematics of linkages. Students first developed forms using origami techniques and later developed a structural concept out of it based on a specific problem given to each student. Once the concept was formulated, students performed manual as well as software-based calculations with structural analysis to determine member forces, joint forces and sectional sizes. In the final phase of the studio, students made scaled models of structure and the joinery along with basic drawings.