Design and foldability of Miura-based cylindrical origami structures

A methodology for designing cylindrical origami with different patterns and different cross-sectional shapes is presented. Planar and cylindrical origami with curved-crease patterns are designed and proved to be foldable and developable regardless of the type of crease line. Specifically, cylindrical origami structures with arc-Miura pattern and circular cross section, arc pattern and circular cross section, arc-Miura pattern and triangular cross section, arc pattern and triangular cross section are designed. The relationships between the two-dimensional (2D) crease lines in a sheet and three-dimensional (3D) spatial origami structures are derived. Fabrications of cylindrical origami by a folding process are performed to validate the design theory for 2D crease lines. This work paves the way for applications for cylindrical origami in engineering, such as energy absorption.

Automated summary

This study presents a methodology for designing cylindrical origami with different patterns and cross-sectional shapes, and proves the foldability and developability of curved-crease patterns. It explores the relationships between 2D crease lines in a sheet and 3D spatial origami structures, paving the way for applications in engineering such as energy absorption.