| Summary |
This paper describes the structural and morphological potential of folded air-tube structures. Straight cylindrical air-tube is folded at the vertices of polyhedron and each vertex is bound together keeping the passage of air in the cylinder in order to inflate from one end to the other. Eulerian path configuration enables the whole members from one cylinder without cut and weld. Pantograph mechanism is found in cuboctahedron and the unfolding force is examined.. Air-tubes using compressed air are extremely lightweight. If substantial deformation is induced by an external force, however, they are susceptible to a loss of membrane tension leading to the wrinkles in the air-tubes and, with further deformation, to structural instability. Therefore, a basic design requirement is that the tensile stress limit on the air-tube side under tension not be exceeded, while the tension on the side under compression is maintained. Because air itself has no inherent limitation on shape recovery, on the other hand, deformation and wrinkles may be permitted so long as they pose no structural or functional problems. Many structural configurations are thus possible.
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