Biomimetic approach for the creation of a deployable structure based on the blooming of the morning glory flower

Fenci, GE; Currie, NGR; Weekes, L

Abstract

This research project proposes the design of a freestanding, biomimetically inspired, deployable canopy. Nature inspires the structure in terms of mechanism and shape, allowing for the creation of a lightweight, multifunctional, and efficient deployable awning. A review of the key features characterising deployable structures along with an in depth investigation into the biological world brought to the modelling of a foldable structure inspired by the blooming of a Morning Glory flower (Ipomea Violacea). Through providing controls for each of the degrees of freedom in the proposed system with hydraulic rams, the geometry could be frozen at set deployment stages and, subsequently, a time-stepped analysis was created based on pseudo-static principles, showing the structure at various stages of deployment. The freezing of the structure allowed a parametric investigation of the most suitable deployment sequence to be developed.

Citation

Fenci, G., Currie, N., & Weekes, L. Biomimetic approach for the creation of a deployable structure based on the blooming of the morning glory flower. Presented at International Association for Shell and Spatial Structures (IASS) 2015 Amsterdam Symposium: Future Visions, Amsterdam, Netherlands

• Presentation Conference Type: Other
• Conference Name: International Association for Shell and Spatial Structures (IASS) 2015 Amsterdam Symposium: Future Visions
• Conference Location: Amsterdam, Netherlands
• End Date: Aug 20, 2015
• Publication Date: Aug 20, 2015
• Deposit Date: Nov 24, 2015
• Publisher URL: https://www.ingentaconnect.com/openurl?genre=article&eissn=2518-6582&volume=2015&issue=6&spage=1&epage=12&aulast=Fenci
• Related Public URLs: http://www.iass-structures.org/; https://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/iass/piass
• Additional Information: Event Type : Conference