Two Way Deployable Spherical Grids

Abstract

Crosspiece deployable grids are assemblies formed by groups of bars with two joints at their ends and one or more that lie inward and that can vary their angular position with respect to each other. In practice, this variation means that assemblies can change their form from a folded position, where they occupy very little space, to an unfolded position that is usable as an enclosure or covering. The evolution betwen the two extreme positions of this geometry is determined by compatibility limitations. In this paper, the performance of spherical grids composed of two-way crosspieces is studied. A way of generating them from grids which subdivide the surface of a sphere is also presented.