The goal of this paper is to construct lightweight, deployable, yet stiff structuresmade from composite origami. In particular, the deployable origami structuresmanufactured in this study are based on the Tachi-Miura-Polyhedron (TMP). The TMPis a bellows-like structure that can be stored in a flat state and deployed to a finitevolume with defined axial stiffness. The stiffness is highly tunable and depends onseveral geometric properties as well as the material properties of the crease-lines. Thestructure can exhibit auxetic behavior among other interesting traits when tunedproperly. This study will focus on the manufacturing of this origami utilizing compositematerials which can offer a lower weight and higher stiffness solution for constructingthe TMP for real world engineering applications. Prototypes are constructed with dryglass fibers to form the crease-lines. Polyurethane resin is then infused to bond thestructure together and protect the resin. This research can contribute to the design oforigami-based deployable structures in industry and research. The manufacturingprocess used is relatively simple since it does not require a complex system of movingparts or mechanical connections. Additionally, this structure is hollow and thereforeoffers a space filling feature which gives it great potential as a space structure or adisaster relief shelter.
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