Deployable and Reconfigurable Structures with Multiphysics Integrations
Open Access
- Author:
- Bentley, Christopher
- Graduate Program:
- Mechanical Engineering (PHD)
- Degree:
- Doctor of Philosophy
- Document Type:
- Dissertation
- Date of Defense:
- February 21, 2024
- Committee Members:
- Robert Kunz, Professor in Charge/Director of Graduate Studies
Michael Roan, Major Field Member
Amanda Hanford, Outside Unit & Field Member
Jared Butler, Chair & Dissertation Advisor
Mary Frecker, Major Field Member - Keywords:
- Deployable Structures
Reconfigurable Structures
Deployment Routines
Origami-inspired Structures
Origami-inspired Acoustic Arrays
Self-Adaptive Reconfigurable Structures - Abstract:
- Recent studies have shown that reconfigurable and deployable structures inspired from origami have extensive application in science and engineering, such as the field of adaptive acoustic wave propagation. While these research efforts have demonstrated origami-inspired structures with functional capabilities for acoustic wave propagation, they necessitate means that facilitate low-dimensional reconfiguration and structural stability. Alternatively, researchers have scrutinized the compatibility of origami and rigid-link mechanisms to promote low-dimensional motion and stability. Yet, these research efforts address reconfiguration behavior without considering acoustic wave phenomena in the structural design. Advances in deployment and reconfiguration routines have also been studied to enhance the functionality of deployable and reconfigurable structures. Some of these advances include the utilization of mechanical energy release techniques and the incorporation of smart materials and have demonstrated effective implementation. Yet, they do not possess evident means to delay deployment sequences or intelligently self-reconfigure in response to unforeseen conditions. This research establishes a framework of deployable and reconfigurable structures with multiphysics integrations that surmount these limitations in the state-of-the-art. In this dissertation, the kinematic and geometric compatibility between origami-inspired structures and rigid-link mechanisms is investigated with structures that expand the current knowledge base. The influence of the structure geometry and reconfiguration on acoustic wave propagation is also studied. A deployment routine, inspired from unstable rotation phenomena described by the Intermediate Axis Theorem, is then promoted to enable time-delayed deployment sequences. Finally, a platform that incorporates intelligent material systems into structures for self-reconfiguration is introduced. Comprehensive analytical, computational, and experimental efforts are conducted to demonstrate the realization of the proposed deployable and reconfigurable structures.