FOLDING ANALYSIS FOR FRAME STRUCTURES

Abstract

Folding structures can be a smart solution for effective transportation economizing space and for quick assemblage saving time and labor at construction sites. In the paper a numerical procedure to find one of the optimum paths to fold structures into desired configuration is proposed. Concepts of the minimum displacement path and the geometrical measurer are introduced in order to assess the validity of computed folding paths. The definition of the bifurcation point on a folding path and bifurcation point is discussed. Two illustrative examples are presented and how to compare the effectiveness of paths among different folding paths is demonstrated. Classification of bifurcation paths at a bifurcation point is attempted with the aid of group theoretic approach.