Analysis of Membrane Deploying Process Based on Miura Origami

Abstract

Aiming at a series of characteristics of the membrane structure in the folded configuration during the deploying process, the initial defect of the membrane crease is introduced by proxy model, and to realize the study of the deploying process of the membrane. Based on the finite element method, the deploying process of the multi-element Miura membrane is simulated. And the stretch ratio, maximum mises stress, deployment rate, wrinkle deformation, etc. of membrane structure are discussed. The existence of creases can cause damage to the membrane surface, so the total length of the creases should be within an appropriate size range. By changing the number of elements and the longitudinal crease angle of the same size membrane respectively, the influence of the above two factors on the total crease length, storage volume and deploying process of the folded membrane is studied. The results show that when the longitudinal crease angle is 15°, the transverse and longitudinal displacements of the Miura folded membrane with different element numbers are not synchronized during the deploying process. By keeping the number of elements constant and increasing the angle of the longitudinal creases from 15° to 45°, the synchronization of the transverse and longitudinal displacements during the membrane deploying process is gradually enhanced. In addition, the experiment on the membrane deploying process verifies the reliability of the finite element simulation results.