Jason Sheng (’15), “Computational and Physical Modeling of Origami-Inspired Deployable Structures”

Jason Sheng ’15, from simulation of Origami plate deployment simulation

Jason Sheng ’15, will discuss the details of the model development process, using the program Inventor^TM for two origami-inspired, deployable structural forms: a folded plate and a scissor element. Design issues that were successfully resolved in this project included joint mechanism design, panel geometry interference, mechanism movement, and contact surfaces. Views of the structural forms and dynamic motion of origami-inspired structures were also recorded as videos.  In addition, physical models of the scissor-element truss-arch structures were constructed based on the “best” design configurations found, considering the trade-off between trying to minimize the weight of the structure while also minimizing deflections under wind loads. Zhe “Jason” Sheng ’15 is a mechanical engineering and music double major from Dalian, China.