Deployable - collapsible structures have many potential applications, ranging from emergency shelters and facilities, through relocatable, semi-permanent structures, to space-station components. A new concept of self-supported/self-stabilizied "clicking" structures - featuring stable, stress-free states in both deployed and collapsed forms - shows even higher promises. Basic research will be conducted to establish sound design principles for these structures, which includes modeling of the behavior during articulation. Engineering research dealing with detailing, articulation mechanisms, effects of imperfections and friction and using the developed modeling techniques is needed to make designs work in the real word. Moderate scale structures will be built to test both the modeling technique and the design engineering. The results of this project will be proof of feasibility of large size "clicking" structures, and a set of methodologies and tools for their design and detailing.

Project Start
Project End
Budget Start
1987-11-01
Budget End
1990-04-30
Support Year
Fiscal Year
1987
Total Cost
$148,958
Indirect Cost
Name
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Department
Type
DUNS #
City
Cambridge
State
MA
Country
United States
Zip Code
02139