Wrapping Thick Membranes with Slipping Folds

A novel method of packaging finite-thickness membranes tightly and with high packaging efficiency is presented. This method allows the membrane to be packaged without extension and without plastic creasing. As such, initially flat membranes can be deployed to a flat state. Membrane thickness is accommodated by removing material along fold lines and exploiting the slipping deformation mechanism thus created. Also presented are methods for prestressing and deploying membranes packaged according to this technique. Initial tests demonstrate packaging efficiencies of 73% without plastic deformation. Experimental deployment tests of a meter-scale model showed controlled deployment with unfolding forces of less than 0.6 N.