Stiff deployable structures via coupling of thick Miura-ori tubes along creases

Abstract: Origami-based structures play an important role in the realization of deployable mechanisms and unique mechanical properties via programmable deformation by folding. Among origami-based structures, tessellation by the coupling of origami tubes enriches the variations in geometry and mechanical properties. However, thickness accommodation is a critical problem in engineering applications involving the coupling of thick origami tubes. To solve this problem, this study proposes the coupling of thick Miura-ori tubes along the creases for facile fabrication, which sustains the one-degree-of-freedom (DOF) motion of thick Miura-ori tubes owing to the local mirror symmetry around the coupling interfaces. Furthermore, the coupling method contributes to the high stiffness of the coupled Miura-ori tubes, as evidenced by the wide gap in the eigenvalues between the one-DOF mode and the elastic modes obtained by the bar-and-hinge models. Finally, meter-scale coupled Miura-ori tubes were fabricated to demonstrate one-DOF motion and high stiffness. The findings of this study enable the rapid construction of structures by one-DOF motion and enhancement of transportability via flat-foldability.