Author(s)

C. Gantes

Abstract

The deployable structures investigated in this paper are prefabricated space frames consisting of straight bars linked together in the factory as a compact bundle, which can then be unfolded into large-span, load-bearing structural forms. During the deployment process incompatibilities between the member lengths lead to the occurrence of strains and stresses resulting in a snap-through phenomenon that "locks" the structures in their deployed configuration. The structural response during deployment is, therefore, characterized by geometric nonlinearities and, hence, accurate simulation of the deployment process requires sophisticated finite element modeling. In the present work, a simple analytical model is proposed that uses geometric considerations to predict the

Keywords