Abstract
The present author proposed 'Origami Technology', and envisages the formation of a new discipline; mathematical analysis of Origami and its development in academic applications especially in engineering use. Origami structures consisting of zigzagged faces have foldable/deployable functions as well as solidification characters. Models presented in this paper include typical foldable/deployable thin cylinders, conical-shaped membranes, circular sheets which may be folded or wrapped. These shape-changeable origami models are analytically designed by folding or creasing a flat sheet or a thin plate into a 3-dimentional shape. New types of ultra-light 3-D honeycomb core models and a newly developed core panel named "dia-core" (consisting of 2 periodically dimpled panel pieces) are also presented for use in building such as aerospace structures. The former models are designed by analyzing the helical patterns or structures often found in living organisms, because such helical structures are easily deployed due to the presence of fewer dynamic restraints. The latter are developed on purely geometrical basis. As for academic applications of Origami modeling, two examples are shown; the phyllotaxis of leaves or flowers showing helical patterns, and axial buckling and torsional buckling of cylindrical tubes and conical shells are explained by using origami modeling.
