AUTHOR=Zhang Xinyi , Lu Guoxing , Wang Shenghai , Durandet Yvonne 

TITLE=Mechanical characteristics of graded origami bellows under axial tension

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Physics

VOLUME=11

YEAR=2023

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/physics/articles/10.3389/fphy.2023.1304426

DOI=10.3389/fphy.2023.1304426

ISSN=2296-424X

ABSTRACT=<p>In this study, the mechanical characteristics of the graded origami bellows were numerically investigated and experimentally validated. Two graded geometric parameters were considered: pre-folding angle (<italic>θ</italic>) and layer height (<italic>L</italic><italic><sub>e</sub></italic>). The sensitivities of the deployment process and energy absorption efficiency of origami bellows to variations in <italic>θ</italic> and <italic>L</italic><italic><sub>e</sub></italic> under quasi-static loading and dynamic loading were numerically investigated. Results show that the origami bellows with positive gradients exhibited progressive deployment process. More than one deformation mechanism was triggered during deployment, indicating a mixed non-rigid deployment mode. A large gradient of <italic>θ</italic> had a notable effect on the energy absorption efficiency. Both specific energy absorption (<italic>SEA</italic>) and mean tensile force (<italic>P</italic><italic><sub>m</sub></italic>) decreased as the gradient of <italic>θ</italic> increased. Although the gradient of <italic>L</italic><italic><sub>e</sub></italic> was insensitive to the force response, the <italic>SEA</italic> decreased as the gradient of L<sub><italic>e</italic></sub> increased. The dynamic behavior of the graded models indicated that both the initial peak force and <italic>SEA</italic> were affected by the graded parameters. In general, the proposed graded origami bellows show a controllable deployment process and a stable force response under axial tension.</p>