Abstract
Deployable flexible members utilizing an elastic buckling phenomenon have been studied in order to improve the packing efficiency of space structures. However, these studies are primarily restricted to straight members such as columns and beams. Herein, we present an interesting buckling phenomenon of a ring which considerably reduces its original volume and could be applied to a deployable ring. First, we show an accurate method which can be used to analyze this buckling phenomenon accompanying finite rotations in space. Then, with this method, we theoretically examine the effect of structural parameters on the buckling behavior.
