Optimization design method for kirigami-inspired space deployable structures with cylindrical surfaces

Space deployable structures are widely used in aerospace engineering, which have been addressed new folding methods, such as spatial overconstrained linkages and origami structures. This paper proposes a novel kirigami-inspired space cylindrical surface deployable structure with a large deployment ratio and a few degrees of freedom, as well as its optimization design method. Based on the thick panel kirigami model proposed in our previous study, a kirigami network is presented. The construction of a physical model based on a kirigami network is discussed. A mathematical model to describe the deployed surfaces of the physical model is provided, and an optimization design method for cylindrical surface deployable structures based on the kirigami network is proposed. Finally, the prototypes of a parabolic cylindrical antenna and a cylindrical antenna are constructed based on the proposed optimization design method as an example. Our study provides a new method of designing cylindrical surface deployable structures for aerospace engineering applications. (C) 2020 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

This paper proposes a novel space cylindrical surface deployable structure inspired by kirigami art, along with an optimization design method. The method can be applied to design deployable structures for aerospace engineering, with a large deployment ratio and a few degrees of freedom.