Locking Zipper-Coupled Origami Tubes for Deployable Energy Absorption

Abstract Energy absorption devices are widely used to mitigate damage from collisions and impact loads. Due the inherent uncertainty of possible characteristics, passive energy absorbers with fixed mechanical properties not capable serving in versatile application scenarios. Here, we explore a deployable design concept where origami tubes can extend, lock, intended absorb through crushing (buckling plasticity). This system is unique because deployment increase distance between two impacting bodies tune characteristics. We show that stiffness, peak force, total all deployed state. present numerical experimental studies investigate these tunable behaviors under both static dynamic The energy-absorbing performance slightly better than conventional prismatic terms absorbed force. When only partially deployed, they exhibit nearly elastic collapse behavior; however, when locked more configuration, experience non-recoverable higher absorption. Parametric reveal geometric tube control nonlinear relationship deployment. A physical model shows potential self-locking after for enable future protective systems on-demand different