Comparative Structural Integrity of Miura-Ori and Flasher Origami Patterns for Deployable Solar Panels.

With the introduction of origami folding patterns into deployable structures in space in the mid-2000s, the field of aerospace engineering experienced an innovative breakthrough with new benefits. The advantages of using origami principles in deployable structures are undeniable; from reduced weight and costs to enhanced functionality, origami in spacecraft has significantly increased efficiency. The deployment of solar panels, specifically, is heavily dependent on utilizing origami-inspired structures to maximize the surface area for energy absorption while minimizing the storage volume. For the better performance of solar panel deployment, the origami structure must have high structural integrity to withstand the space environment and external impacts. This paper presents two folding patterns, comparing their structural integrity: Miura-Ori and Flasher origami folds. The study focused on the comparison and evaluation, specifically assessing their strength and structural integrity through physical experimentation using smaller-scale Mylar and Flasher models. As a result of physical testing, the Flasher outperformed Miura-Ori by 16% in terms of strength, indicating it to be a more impact-resistant origami structure. It is hypothesized that the rotational symmetry of Flasher distributes compressive stress more evenly, yielding a higher peak load than the parallelogram tessellation of Miura-Ori. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]