Origami Folding: A Structural Engineering Approach

In this paper we present a novel engineering application of Origami, using it for both the flexibility and the rigidity the folding patterns provide. The proposed Folded Textured Sheets have several interesting 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 stiffness 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.