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Linear and nonlinear topology optimization of origami structures based on crease pattern and axial rigidity

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Abstract

Origami structures exhibit desirable stowage properties for application in deployable space structures. This work aims to improve a design methodology for origami structures using topology optimization. The objective is to find the optimal configuration of the truss structure based on axial rigidity and the crease pattern that maximizes the displacement at set locations, under prescribed forces and boundary conditions. First, a linear method is used to determine small strains and small rotations to evaluate the performance at the initiation of folding. Subsequently, a nonlinear method is implemented to consider large displacements and large rotations. To carry out the optimization process, constraints on the number of active fold lines and on the axial rigidity distribution are applied. Previous studies on topology optimization of origami structures have focused on folding and bending in their analyses. Here, it is shown that including axial rigidity as a design variable leads to new and promising origami designs.

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Data availability

The MATLAB codes used during the current study will be made available from the authors upon request.

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Acknowledgements

We are grateful to Dr. Kazuko Fuchi from the University of Dayton for her advice and for providing the MATLAB codes in Fuchi (2015) and Gillman et al. (2018). The authors acknowledge Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT), through IDMEC, 504 under LAETA, project UIDB/50022/2020. Also, A.S. acknowledges the funding provided by the NSERC Canada Research Chair program.

Funding

Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, 950 - 233175.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Politecnico di Torino, Corso Duca degli Abruzzi 24, 10129, Turin, Italy

    Vincenzo Cretella

  2. IDMEC, Institute of Mechanical Engineering, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Rovisco Pais, No. 1, 1049-001, Lisbon, Portugal

    Vincenzo Cretella, Alfonso Pagani & Afzal Suleman

  3. Department of Mechanical Engineering, Center for Aerospace Research, University of Victoria, 3800 Finnerty Rd, Victoria, British Columbia, V8W 2Y2, Canada

    Abdolrasoul Sohouli & Afzal Suleman

Authors
  1. Vincenzo Cretella
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  2. Abdolrasoul Sohouli
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  3. Alfonso Pagani
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  4. Afzal Suleman
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Contributions

This work is based on the master thesis of V. Cretella, who modified the MATLAB code in Ref. Fuchi (2015) and Gillman et al. (2018) to obtain the results. A. Suleman, A. Sohouli, and A. Pagani were the supervisors, who guided the student throughout the study.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Afzal Suleman.

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The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.

Replication of results

The main results of this study can be reproduced by using the MATLAB codes used in this paper, available upon request. The values of the parameters used can be found in this paper.

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Responsible Editor: Xiaojia Shelly Zhang

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Cretella, V., Sohouli, A., Pagani, A. et al. Linear and nonlinear topology optimization of origami structures based on crease pattern and axial rigidity. Struct Multidisc Optim 67, 78 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00158-024-03773-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00158-024-03773-3

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