<p>Multi-stable structures have gathered extensive interest because they can provide a broad spectrum of adaptive functions for many engineering systems. &nbsp;Especially, origami sheets with a translational periodicity can be stacked and assembled to form a multi-stable cellular solid, which has emerged as a promising platform to design functional structures. This paper investigates the multi-stability characteristics of a non-rigid stacked Miura-origami mechanism consisting of Miura-ori sheets and accordion-shaped connecting sheets, focusing on the elemental unit cell. A nonlinear mechanical model based on the bar-hinge approach is established to quantitatively study the unit cell's multi-stability with intentionally relaxed rigid-folding conditions. &nbsp;Results show that only two stable states are achievable in the unit cell with reinforced rigid-folding kinematics. &nbsp;However, if one relaxes the rigid-folding conditions and allows the facet to deform (aka. non-rigid folding), &nbsp;four stable states are reachable in the unit cell if the crease torsional stiffness of the connecting sheets becomes sufficiently larger than that of the Miura-ori sheets, or the stress-free folding angle deviates away from 0<sup>o</sup>. A close examination of the potential energy composition of the non-rigid unit cell provides a detailed principle underpinning the multi-stability. By showing the benefits of exploiting facet compliance, this study can become the building blocks for origami-based structures and material systems with a wider variety of novel functionalities.</p>

A Study of the Multi-Stability in a Non-Rigid Stacked Miura-Origami Cellular Mechanism

Paper Proceedings: https://asmedigitalcollection.asme.org/IDETC-CIE/IDETC-CIE2021/volume/85369

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