Engineers at RMIT University have created an innovative new system that turns flat-pack tubes into strong, portable building materials.
This cutting-edge design, inspired by origami, allows the tubes to be easily transported when packed flat and then quickly transformed into sturdy structures.
The breakthrough was made possible by a self-locking mechanism based on a technique called curved-crease origami, which uses curved lines in paper folding to create intricate shapes.
The design of these tubes was inspired by the natural strength found in bamboo, which has internal structures that provide reinforcement.
Dr. Jeff (Ting-Uei) Lee and Distinguished Professor Mike (Yi Min) Xie, who led the research team, believe this new system could have wide-ranging applications.
“Our self-locking system is the result of smart geometric design,” said Dr. Lee, from RMIT’s School of Engineering.
“This invention is suitable for large-scale use. For example, a panel made from multiple tubes weighing just 1.3 kilograms can easily support a 75-kilogram person.”
Flat-pack tubes are already used in various fields, including biomedical devices, aerospace structures, robotics, and civil construction.
They are especially valuable in disaster recovery, where quick and easy-to-assemble structures are essential.
The new system developed by the RMIT team makes these tubes even more practical, as they can automatically transform into a strong, self-locked state without requiring any extra tools or mechanisms.
The research, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, highlights the potential of these tubes to revolutionize existing deployable systems.
For example, when NASA deploys solar arrays in space, they use tubes that were packed flat before being unfurled. However, these tubes are hollow and could deform under certain forces in space. The new origami-inspired design could provide a stronger alternative for such applications.
Professor Xie explained that their smart algorithm allows them to control how the structure behaves under different forces by adjusting the orientation of the tubes.
“With our innovation, flat-pack tubes are not only easy to transport, but they also become strong enough to withstand external forces when in use,” Xie said.
“The tube is also self-locking, meaning its strong shape is securely locked in place without the need for extra mechanisms or human intervention.”
Looking ahead, the team plans to refine the design and explore new possibilities. “We aim to extend the self-locking feature to different tube shapes and test how the tubes perform under various forces, such as bending and twisting,” said Dr. Lee.
“We are also exploring new materials and manufacturing methods to create smaller, more precise tubes.”
The team is working on developing tubes that can deploy themselves with minimal manual effort for various applications.
“We plan to improve our smart algorithm to make the tubes even more adaptable and efficient for different real-world situations,” Professor Xie added.
This new system has the potential to significantly improve how portable structures are designed and used, offering a stronger, more efficient solution for a wide range of industries.
