Design and Analysis of a Foldable Mobile Shelter System

A concept for a mobile shelter is proposed, based on the geometry and kinematic behaviour of foldable plate structures. The folding pattern and the associated design parameters are discussed, along with their influence on the geometry and the kinematic behaviour. It is shown that the transition can be made from a foldable plate structure to a foldable bar structure, while retaining an identical kinematic behaviour. This is done by introducing custom-built joints for connecting the bars which allow the system to deploy in the desired way, maintaining the same D.O.F (degree of freedom) as the plate system. For the structure to be employable as a fully-fledged temporary space enclosure, a lightweight textile membrane is incorporated beforehand and deployed along with the bar structure.