SHOCK ABSORBING AND IMPACT MITIGATING STRUCTURES BASED ON AXIAL-ROTATIONAL COUPLING MECHANISM

摘要

An impact mitigating assembly includes an elongate member formed from a plurality of triangulated cylindrical origami (TCO) unit cells that exhibit coupled rotational and axial motion. The unit cells include an end portion and a tubular member fixed to the end portion. The tubular member has a plurality of concave sides. Each side has a first triangular portion and a second triangular portion sharing an elastic connecting edge with the second triangular portion. The first triangular portion also shares an angled upright edge with the second triangular portion of an adjacent side. Compressing the tubular member longitudinally causes the connecting edge and the angled upright edge to elastically deform, for example by stretching, and causes the second end of the tubular member to rotate with respect to the first end of the tubular member.