Inflationary routes to Gaussian curved topography

TL;DR

This paper explores how inflating thermoplastic fabric structures with programmed seam patterns creates Gaussian-curved shapes, combining origami-inspired design with pneumatic control to produce strong, lightweight shells with complex topographies.

Contribution

It introduces a method for designing inflatable structures with specific Gaussian-curved shapes through programmed seam networks and solves the inverse problem for target axisymmetric forms.

Findings

Programmed seam patterns enable precise Gaussian-curved shapes.

Continuous spiral channels produce curved shell structures.

Structures exhibit high strength due to stretch resistance.

Abstract

Gaussian-curved shapes are obtained by inflating initially flat systems made of two superimposed strong and light thermoplastic impregnated fabric sheets heat-sealed together along a specific network of lines. The resulting inflated structures are light and very strong because they (largely) resist deformation by the intercession of stretch. Programmed patterns of channels vary either discretely through boundaries, or continuously. The former give rise to facetted structures that are in effect non-isometric origami and which cannot unfold as in conventional folded structures, since they present localized angle deficit or surplus. Continuous variation of channel direction in the form of spirals is examined, giving rise to curved shells. We solve the inverse problem consisting in finding a network of seam lines leading to a target axisymmetric shape on inflation. They too have strength from the metric changes that have been pneumatically driven, resistance to change being met with stretch and hence high forces like typical shells .