Design and analysis of modified Kresling origami-inspired deployable solar-energy-powered habitable structures

Origami-based structures with bistable characteristics can be acquired to design habitable engineering systems in rough environments such as space stations and surface bases, which are crucially eager for a stable full-deployed state for serviceability and a stable folded state for launch. This research introduces truncations between layers into typical multi-layer Kresling origami structures to achieve integral bistability of enveloped cylinder structures. This leads to capacity bearing at a full-deployed state without extra locking devices, a necessary feature for habitable structures. A parametric model of the modified structure was developed, allowing for the visualization and optimization of design parameters. Folding and deploying processes were numerically simulated. The bistability of the cylinder structures was confirmed by changes in height during the inflation and deflation processes. The structure's electricity demand is met by flexible photovoltaic modules attached to its surface. A Genetic Algorithm is applied to optimize the structural parameters for maximum photovoltaic production capacity. The findings indicate that this modified Kresling origami structure, combined with flexible photovoltaic modules, holds promise for applications requiring deployable, solar-energy-powered habitable structures.