Bridge in a Box: Unlocking Origami's Power to Produce Load-Bearing Structures

taylorvich writes:

https://techxplore.com/news/2024-03-bridge-origami-power.html

For the first time, load-bearing structures like bridges and shelters can be made with origami modules-versatile components that can fold compactly and adapt into different shapes-University of Michigan engineers have demonstrated.

It's an advance that could enable communities to quickly rebuild facilities and systems damaged or destroyed during natural disasters, or allow for construction in places that were previously considered impractical, including outer space. The technology could also be used for structures that need to be built and then disassembled quickly, such as concert venues and event stages.

"With both the adaptability and load-carrying capability, our system can build structures that can be used in modern construction," said Evgueni Filipov, an associate professor of civil and environmental engineering and of mechanical engineering, and a corresponding author of the study in Nature Communications.

Principles of the origami art form allow for larger materials to be folded and collapsed into small spaces. And with modular building systems gaining wider acceptance, the applications for components that can be stored and transported with ease have grown.
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A key to the breakthrough came in the form of a different design approach provided by Yi Zhu, research fellow in mechanical engineering and first author of the study.

"When people work with origami concepts, they usually start with the idea of thin, paper-folded models-assuming your materials will be paper-thin," Zhu said. "However, in order to build common structures like bridges and bus stops using origami, we need mathematical tools that can directly consider thickness during the initial origami design."

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