Session
2025 Session 2
Location
Brigham Young University Engineering Building, Provo, UT
Start Date
5-5-2025 9:10 AM
Description
Lamina emergent torsion (LET) arrays are not area efficient and exhibit significant parasitic motion. This makes them unsuitable for use in highly compact applications such as origami-based deployable arrays. This work presents a compact variation of the conventional LET array which resolves these issues. A method for fabricating these compact LET arrays, or C-LETs, from carbon fiber-reinforced polymer is given. Deflection and stress models for C-LETs are shown, and initial steps taken toward validating these models. A prototype origami-based deployable reflectarray incorporating C-LETs demonstrates that they provide the desired motion while maximizing the usable area of the array.
Development and Implementation of Compact LET Joints for Origami-Based Deployable Arrays
Brigham Young University Engineering Building, Provo, UT
Lamina emergent torsion (LET) arrays are not area efficient and exhibit significant parasitic motion. This makes them unsuitable for use in highly compact applications such as origami-based deployable arrays. This work presents a compact variation of the conventional LET array which resolves these issues. A method for fabricating these compact LET arrays, or C-LETs, from carbon fiber-reinforced polymer is given. Deflection and stress models for C-LETs are shown, and initial steps taken toward validating these models. A prototype origami-based deployable reflectarray incorporating C-LETs demonstrates that they provide the desired motion while maximizing the usable area of the array.