Structural Analysis of Curved Folded Deployables

Origami inspired structures are particularly useful for space exploration because they can be compactly stowed during launch and can be deployed to create functional and reconfigurable systems at their final destination. This work presents a finite element implementation for analyzing thin sheets that are folded into curve creased origami. The computational model uses shell elements to capture deformations of the sheet and rotational hinges to simulate the crease line. Different methods for folding, or actuating, the crease are presented and verified with empirical solutions for a curved crease structure. Findings show that the folding method can lead to different energy distributions in the thin sheet while resulting in essentially the same deployed shape. The computational framework is then applied to more complex curved crease structures which can be used to store potential energy for deployment and offer a unique final geometry.