The Origami Crash Box

Abstract

In this paper we present a novel engineering application of Origami, using it for both the exibility and the rigidity the folding patterns provide. The proposed Folded Textured Sheets have several inter- esting mechanical properties. The folding patterns are modelled as a pin-jointed framework, which allows the use of established structural engineering methods to gain insight into the kinematics of the folded sheet. The kinematic analysis can be naturally developed into a sti - ness matrix approach; by studying its softest eigenmodes, important deformations of a partially folded sheet can be found, which aids in the understanding of Origami sheets for engineering applications.