DEPLOYABLE

STRUCTURES
DEPLOYABLE STRUCTURES
● A deployable structure is a structure that can change shape so
as to significantly change its size.
● Deployable structures are structures that can be easily
reduced in size for transportation or storage. A number of
everyday structures could be classed as deployable; tents and
umbrellas are two simple examples.
● Examples of deployable structures are umbrellas, some
tensegrity structures, bistable structures, some Origami shapes
and scissor-like structures. Deployable structures are also used
on spacecraft for deploying solar panels and solar sails.

A field deployable control tower

Working of Deployable umbrella Deployable Tent

A deployable structure is one that can be transformed, with the addition of
an energy input, from a closed stage or compact configuration to a
predetermined, stable expanded form.

Deployable structures are suitable response

to the following needs :
● A- A situation in which there is a need to
create enclosed or protected space for a
short period of time and then move that
space to another location for erection or
storage.
● b- Difficult access places, and/or lack of
labor.
● C- Special applications equipment and
shelters for special equipment which can
not be transported in full open size and
needs to be erected in a very quick way.
● d- Need to enclose space due to variable
weather conditions.
● e- Situations of high risk with elevated
labor
costs, hostile environments, costly
transportation.
● f- Construction aid.
● g- As a construction method
● Deployable structures offer great potential for creating truly transforming, dynamic experiences
and environments. Their lightness and transportability allow them to adapt to a society that is
constantly evolving and changing. Furthermore, these are reusable structures that make efficient
use of energy, resources, materials and space, thus embracing the concept of sustainability.
● Current interest in deployable structures arises mainly from their potential in space. Many space
applications, both current and proposed, require large structures in space. Typical examples
include satellites for communications, earth observation, astronomy, and space exploration.
However, launch vehicles, such as NASA's space shuttle, are, and for the foreseeable future will
continue to be, limited in size.
● The main reason for recent interest in deployable structures has been their potential application in
space. Launch vehicles which put satellites into space are limited in size. The largest presently in
use is NASA's space shuttle; it has a cargo bay 4.6 m in diameter, and 18.3 m long.
Scissor-type Multiple scissor-type Simple Hoberman Compound Hoberman
structure structure mechanism mechanism

Outward folding Outward folding

deployable ring deployable ring NuSTAR mast in the NuSTAR mast deployed.
structure structure stowed configuration.
USE/APPLICATION OF DIFFERENT DEPLOYABLE
STRUCTURES
EXISTING APPLICATIONS
● At first glance, deployability might seem to be a
very unfamiliar term but examples are more
common than one might think. The umbrella is a
typical example of a simple deployable device of
every-day use; it is portable, easy and quick to
erect, and reusable.
● These same characteristics will persist in more
complex and large deployable devices.
● We are surrounded by every-day objects that are
deployable: foldable furniture, old telephone
stands, elevator doors, shop gratings, collapsible
boats, automobile tires, water containers,
antenna
masts, etc, to mention only some.
● Activities like camping are replete with
ingenious forms of collapsible shelters, furniture,
and accessories.
● The reason for making collapsible products is
clear: mobility.
● Deployable gadgets can be found in some military
applications : masts, parabolic antennas,
shelters, bridges.
DIPLOYABLE BRIDGE
APPLICATIONS TO LARGE SCALE SITUATIONS
Deployable structures are suitable in response to the following needs:
a- A situation in which there is a need to create enclosed or protected
Space for a short periodof time and then move that space to another
location for erection or storage. Examples: -Travelling expositions
-Fairs
-Provisionals Shelters
-Movable Hospitals

b- Difficult access places, and/or lack of labor.

Examples: -Remote retransmissions units
-Antenna masts
-Meteorological or research stations
-Military installations
- Emergencies in distant localities, requiring Shelters, Bridges, Hospitals, etc.

C- Special applications equipment and shelters for special equipment which can not be
transported in full open size and needs to be erected in a very quick way.
Examples: - Portable radars and antennas
-Portable hangars
-Portable bridges
-Protection and camouflage of military equipment
The US Army has developed two new bridges. One uses foldable aluminum graphite-epoxy
honeycomb panels that fold over a trailer for transportation and can be unfolded in few a
minutes by means of hydraulic jacks, the second one, using scissor-hinges and triangular
frames, is deployed by pulling it with a cable.
d- Need to enclose space due to variable weather conditions.
Examples: - Stadium covers, Cover-plazas.

e- Situations of high risk with elevated labor costs, hostile environments,

costly transportation. Examples: -Earth exploration
-Space exploration
-Space stations.
Space exploration is another field in which deployability has been of
immense interest, and many curious devices has been developed under
NASA auspices.

f- Construction aid.
Example: - Reusable scaffolding for complex forms.
One of the problems of building shell structures is the high cost of the forms
needed; this has inhibited the use of these efficient structures. Deployable
structures can provide a reusable, easy to erect scaffolding, for example
inflatable forms are now being used for the construction of concrete domes
and vault like structures.
Deployable inflated bridge
g- As a construction method
The traditional view of building has been one of simple
accretion. Stone is put on stone, brick on brick, steel
on steel, and so forth until the final form takes shape.
In modem construction, accretion is often by larger
modules in the form of walls, floors, and even entire
rooms. A new method consists of bringing the complete
structure to the site in some compact configuration
and deploying it there for permanent use.
TYPES OF DEPLOYABLE STRUCTURES
Merchan
One of the first classifications of deployable structures is presented in the master thesis of
Carlos H. H. Merchan 20 in 1987 for the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
● Gantes
Prof. Gantes obtained his PhD at the MIT with the thesis A design methodology for deployable
structures and is now a professor in the School of Civil Engineering, National Technical
University of Athens. His book Deployable Structures: Analysis and Design is one of the first
publications that critically appraises deployable structures. Application governs his first
distinction, identifying earth-based and spatial structures, where the self-weight of the structure
ceases to be of concern during deployment
BASIC MECHANISM
● There are many mechanisms which fall into the category of deployable structures, but we can
group them into two general categories:
A) Struts Structures : scissor-hinged, tensile, and sliding mechanisms, etc.
B) Surface Structures: folded, inflatable, telescopic, etc.
● The general characteristic of group A is that these structures are made out of struts which
commonly work as compression, tension or bending components connected by joints or
hinges.
● In Group B stresses are carried by surfaces. In some, cases a continuous surface carries only
tension forces like, in pressurized or inflatable construction; other structures are made out of
small surfaces or planes joined together by some usually flexible means of forming a
continuous structure.
● Deployability implies an extra cost over an assembly structure due to more sophisticated,
expensive, movable connections, locking mechanisms, and deployment mechanisms . This
extra cost has to be balanced by the structure's greater potential for adaptability, mobility, and
labor saving construction.

SCISSOR- HINGED SURFACE

FOLDED
JOINTS- IMPORTANT ELEMENT FOR MECHANISM

The successful behavior, duration, and reliability of a deployable structure will depend on a
great way in its joints. The joints are points at which forces converge, and their ability to resist
and transmit those forces will determine to an important degree
The joint should meet the following criteria:
1. Should transmit the forces evenly throughout the components which arrive at that point.
2. It should firmly hold all the struts which meet at that point.
3. It should give every strut enough freedom to go from the closed stage to the open one, but
avoid holding the struts too loosely.
4. In the cases were reusability is required, the joint has to be designed to stand the stresses
created during the erection process, minimizing fatigue in the material.
5. Friction between the moving pieces should be minimized to avoid excessive wearing and to
facilitate the erection and dismantling processes.
OPENING AND CLOSING MECHANISMS
● Another fundamental aspect to consider when designing a
deployable structure is the open-closing mechanism. As size
and weight increase opening and closing a deployable
structure become a more and more problematic factor in the
effective good functioning of the concept. The structures have
to be provided with a mechanism to accomplish the
erection-dismantling process,these mechanisms can go from
manually driven ones to fully automatic and even
remote-controlled ones. But every system will depend on each
structure, and in particular, on its size and weight, frequency
and conditions of deployment, environmental factors,
possibility of energy sources, etc.
● Opening and closing mechanisms can be hydraulic systems,
motor or manually-driven screws, cables and pulley
mechanisms, spring-driven mechanisms, etc. But any
mechanism use should provided a even movement of all the
parts at a controlled rate. Since the structures usually start
the deployment process running horizontally over the erecting
surface, for those structures to be erected over surfaces or
terrains it is convenient to mount them over wheels in order
to reduce friction with the surface,thus reducing the force
needed for the erection.
PAJARA SPORTS BUILDING, INDONESIA - ARCHITECTURAL EXAMPLE

● Pajajaran Sports Building in Bandung was the

study case to exercise this structure in
architectural building.
● The variables were limited by various activities
(indoor and outdoor activities) and weather
changing/climate condition (rainy and dry
season).
● There are opened building and closed building.
There are no specific requirements of
movement neither form structure. However,
sun movement requires to create open
buildings that can be effectively giving outdoor
environment but should not causing glare. So,
sun path variable will be main variable to
formulated movement and form of deployable
structure
● These data are the basic step to work on
climatic consideration to reduce consumption
of conventional energy [4]. Nature of sun
movement and natural light was responded to
create formulation of movement and form. To
avoid glare, inside the building must be
covered from direct light. So, it is important to
create the deployable structure similar to
shading devices.
 Notes:
1. Linier pattern
2. Two-hinged frame pattern
3. Counter profile in center pattern
4. Ridge to valley folding pattern
5. Diamond pattern with
non-symmetric modular pattern
6. Diamond pattern with symmetric
modular pattern.
The selected geometry was the most
optimal because it obeys the geometg
patterrical rules for stable adaptive
structures foldinns from Knippenberg

From the selected geometry, the movement

Daily sun movement is more dynamic than
monthly sun movement, daily sun movement
need to be directly responded. Monthly sun path
does not require significant movement due to low
rotation rate and insignificant changing. To
respond this condition, optimal movement to
against shadow angle is using rotation movement
perpendicular to shadow angle.
was then calculated based on the Vertical
Shadow Angle. Movement of the deployable
structure for blocking the sun could be seen
in the Fig 7 and Fig. 8. It shows that from
east-west angle need to be more dynamic
and stable than north-south side. So,
movement of deployable structure need to
provide sun movement in east-west side first
than north-south side
 The structure was
After the form and developed into
movement were found, possible details,
structure was then such as using
applied to the building. stabilizer, cable,
Pajajaran Sport Building joints, and hinge.
could not be oriented East Those details must
to West because lack of be able to provide
space. So, the movement rotation on
of the structure must deployable structure
cover to building that in the building.
oriented North to South. Illustration of open
Then, the span of the roof and closed scenario
used was approximately of structure can be
100 meters. The proposed seen in Fig.10.
structure was arc member
with steel material.