{"project":{"acronym":"","projectId":91470,"title":"Fundamentals of 3D Deployable Mechanisms in Space","primaryTaxonomyNodes":[{"taxonomyNodeId":10858,"taxonomyRootId":8816,"parentNodeId":10855,"level":3,"code":"TX12.1.3","title":"Flexible Material Systems","definition":"Flexible material systems are textiles and other materials that can be easily bent without breaking, including materials for soft robotics, flexible sensors and electronics, and flexible structural materials. Flexible material systems also encompass metal structures that use interconnected rigid connections and compliant metal structures that can deform through elastic deformation.","exampleTechnologies":"Applications to habitats and deployable structures, balloons, parachutes, space suits, metalized films and solar sails, tethers, multifunctional materials that include materials that enable the morphing or deployment of aerospace structures, compliant mechanisms based on elastic deformation of thin sections, flexible metal cloth created through additive manufacturing, biobarrier fabrics for planetary protection","hasChildren":false,"hasInteriorContent":true}],"startTrl":2,"currentTrl":3,"endTrl":3,"benefits":"Research in deployable origami structures will contribute to achieving goals in the NASA Technology Roadmap. TA12.2 discusses expandable structures such as precision mirrors and solar/antenna arrays and can be benefited by work on these problems. Studying these structures can also benefit precision structure deploy mechanisms discussed in TA12.3.","description":"Fundamentals of 3D Deployable Origami Structures in Space The primary objectives of my research are to study the application of 3D deployable origami structures in space. The study of origami has produced many innovative ideas and models that have direct application to the design of thick, deployable structures in space such as solar panels. However, the use of deployable structures faces several challenges that must be considered. Some of these challenges include designing structures that can provide the needed folding motion as well as dealing with vibration in flexible structures. Specifically, my work will focus on three major areas: 1.Creating Rigid Foldability 2.Surrogate Folds and Rigid Foldability 3.Vibration of Deployable Structures A useful characteristic of deployable structures is rigid foldability or the ability to fold without requiring any members to warp or stretch. This characteristic allows a folding structure to be manufactured out of inflexible materials such as steels or glasses as described by Homer et al. Other problems in the design of deployable structures include incorporating compliant surrogate folds into rigidly foldable structures and studying their vibration characteristics. Work in this area will help increase reliability, reduce part count and prevent premature failure. Zirbel et al studied the use of a flasher base in the design of a folding solar panel. Merriam describes the design of a compliant pointing mechanism based on spherical mechanisms which are found in origami. Fowler et al described a surrogate hinge suitable for space applications. Methods for designing rigidly foldable crease patterns will be developed to allow designers to manufacture these mechanisms from rigid components. Options such as adding creases/hinges to a design, removing panels and splitting hinges will be considered to create rigid foldability. Methods for designing rigidly foldable structures with surrogate hinges as well as techniques for controlling vibration will also be studied. Alterations to current models of rigid origami to account for crease behavior will be studied. Modifications that alter rigidity and damping characteristics will be investigated to control vibration. Research in deployable origami structures will contribute to achieving goals in the NASA Technology Roadmap. TA12.2 discusses expandable structures such as precision mirrors and solar/antenna arrays and can be benefited by work on these problems. Studying these structures can also benefit precision structure deploy mechanisms discussed in TA12.3.","startYear":2015,"startMonth":8,"endYear":2018,"endMonth":8,"statusDescription":"Completed","principalInvestigators":[{"contactId":283973,"canUserEdit":false,"firstName":"Larry","lastName":"Howell","fullName":"Larry Howell","fullNameInverted":"Howell, Larry","primaryEmail":"lhowell@byu.edu","publicEmail":false,"nacontact":false}],"programDirectors":[{"contactId":84634,"canUserEdit":false,"firstName":"Claudia","lastName":"Meyer","fullName":"Claudia M Meyer","fullNameInverted":"Meyer, Claudia M","middleInitial":"M","primaryEmail":"claudia.m.meyer@nasa.gov","publicEmail":true,"nacontact":false}],"programExecutives":[{"contactId":84634,"canUserEdit":false,"firstName":"Claudia","lastName":"Meyer","fullName":"Claudia M Meyer","fullNameInverted":"Meyer, Claudia M","middleInitial":"M","primaryEmail":"claudia.m.meyer@nasa.gov","publicEmail":true,"nacontact":false}],"programManagers":[{"contactId":183514,"canUserEdit":false,"firstName":"Hung","lastName":"Nguyen","fullName":"Hung D Nguyen","fullNameInverted":"Nguyen, Hung D","middleInitial":"D","primaryEmail":"hung.d.nguyen@nasa.gov","publicEmail":true,"nacontact":false}],"projectManagers":[{"contactId":239959,"canUserEdit":false,"firstName":"Jonathan","lastName":"Sauder","fullName":"Jonathan F Sauder","fullNameInverted":"Sauder, Jonathan F","middleInitial":"F","primaryEmail":"jonathan.sauder@jpl.nasa.gov","publicEmail":true,"nacontact":false}],"coInvestigators":[{"contactId":8045,"canUserEdit":false,"firstName":"Alden","lastName":"Yellowhorse","fullName":"Alden Yellowhorse","fullNameInverted":"Yellowhorse, Alden","primaryEmail":"alden.d.yellowhorse@nasa.gov","publicEmail":true,"nacontact":false}],"website":"https://www.nasa.gov/directorates/spacetech/home/index.html","libraryItems":[],"transitions":[{"transitionId":75813,"projectId":91470,"transitionDate":"2018-08-01","path":"Closed Out","details":"Research conducted through NASA NSTRF funding focused on the application of 3D deployable origami mechanisms in space and studying methods for their design. Part of this research included developing methods for designing rigid-foldable origami and thick origami. Rigid-foldability is defined as the ability of origami to fold without requiring the panels to bend or stretch. Techniques for controlling origami stiffness were also investigated. This resulted in several methods that can be used to design rigid-foldable origami, thick origami and origami with enhanced stiffness. These techniques are important because they can facilitate the design of origami-inspired mechanisms with desirable characteristics. Designing rigid-foldable origami was approached by developing techniques for generating new, rigid-foldable mechanisms from existing devices. Proofs were written for these methods and example models were constructed to demonstrate the methods and their effectiveness. Because the proofs rely on linkage kinematics, they apply to both thin and thick origami. Additional methods for designing thick, rigid-foldable origami were developed specifically for origami tessellations. A process for constructing a two-dimensional tessellation of arbitrary curvature was described and shown to be effective through multiple example models. The process was designed to automatically result in desirable model characteristics such as constant panel thickness. Research also resulted in a set of formulas for designing repeating units in thick origami tessellations. Models of these tessellations were also constructed to demonstrate the method usefulness. Further progress was made on origami stiffness. For cases where it is acceptable for the pattern to be approximately rigid-foldable and endure deformation in some of its panels, a method was developed to analyze the panel deflection. This model predicts the force-deflection behavior of the panels and can support global pattern design. Additional work was done on stiffness and produced comparisons of multiple origami stiffeners.","infoText":"Closed out","infoTextExtra":"","dateText":"August 2018"}],"responsibleMd":{"acronym":"STMD","canUserEdit":false,"city":"","external":false,"linkCount":0,"organizationId":4875,"organizationName":"Space Technology Mission Directorate","organizationType":"NASA_Mission_Directorate","naorganization":false,"organizationTypePretty":"NASA Mission Directorate"},"program":{"acronym":"STRG","active":true,"description":"
\tThe Space Technology Research Grants Program will accelerate the development of "push" technologies to support the future space science and exploration needs of NASA, other government agencies and the commercial space sector. Innovative efforts with high risk and high payoff will be encouraged. The program is composed of two competitively awarded components.
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