A shell unit cell structure includes at least one junction and a plurality of connectors. The plurality of connectors are coupled to the at least one junction. The at least one junction and the plurality of connectors form an integral surface. The shell unit cell structure has an isotropic stiffness.

Disclosed herein are folded sheets of material for use as a structural member and assembly thereof. According to an aspect, a sheet of material defines one or more tabs, slots, and a plurality of fold lines. The fold lines are spaced such that folding the sheet along the fold lines places the slots in substantial alignment for receiving the at least one tab such that a structural member having a web formed in an interior thereof is formed.

Disclosed herein are folded sheets of material for use as a structural member and assembly thereof. According to an aspect, a sheet of material defines one or more tabs, slots, and a plurality of fold lines. The fold lines are spaced such that folding the sheet along the fold lines places the slots in substantial alignment for receiving the at least one tab such that a structural member having a web formed in an interior thereof is formed.

A variable shape frame includes: a plurality of extendable arms to form a frame; and a coupling mechanism that couples ends of adjoining extendable arms. Each extendable arm includes cross units having by two rigid members crossing in an X-shape and pivotally coupled by a middle coupling shaft, and an end coupling portion pivotally coupling ends of adjoining cross units. The end coupling portion includes inner and outer end coupling shafts. Each rigid member has a curved shape. The coupling mechanism includes first bent members each pivotally coupling the inner end coupling shaft of one extendable arm and the outer end coupling shaft of the other extendable arm, second bent members each pivotally coupling the outer end coupling shaft of the one extendable arm and the inner end coupling shaft of the other extendable arm, and bent portion coupling shafts each pivotally coupling the first and second bent members.

A variable shape frame includes: a plurality of extendable arms to form a frame; and a coupling mechanism that couples ends of adjoining extendable arms. Each extendable arm includes cross units having by two rigid members crossing in an X-shape and pivotally coupled by a middle coupling shaft, and an end coupling portion pivotally coupling ends of adjoining cross units. The end coupling portion includes inner and outer end coupling shafts. Each rigid member has a curved shape. The coupling mechanism includes first bent members each pivotally coupling the inner end coupling shaft of one extendable arm and the outer end coupling shaft of the other extendable arm, second bent members each pivotally coupling the outer end coupling shaft of the one extendable arm and the inner end coupling shaft of the other extendable arm, and bent portion coupling shafts each pivotally coupling the first and second bent members.

A shape-morphing space frame (SMSF) utilizing the linear bistable compliant crank-slider mechanism (LBCCSM). The frame's initial shape is constructed from a single-layer grid of flexures, rigid links and LBCCSMs. The grid is bent into the space frame's initial cylindrical shape, which can morph because of the inclusion of LBCCSMs in its structure. The design parameters include the frame's initial height, its tessellation pattern (including the unit cell bistable elements' placement), its initial diameter, and the resulting desired shape. The method used in placing the unit cell bistable elements considers the principle stress trajectories. Two different examples of shape-morphing space frames are presented herein, each starting from a cylindrical-shell space frame and morphing, one to a hyperbolic-shell space frame and the other to a spherical-shell space frame, both morphing by applying moments, which shear the cylindrical shell, and forces, which change the cylinder's radius using Poisson's effect.

A tension compression structural unit and method of assembling structures that comprises endwise interlapping configuration of at least three elongate members into a tension compression structural unit whereby tensegrity is maintained by tensioning a first end of each elongate member against respective first ends of each other elongate member, in interlapped array, and then anchoring each second end of each elongate membereither onto a ground surface or by interlapped configuration with additional elongate members. A stable, domic structure is thus erectable without the need of additional tensioning elements such as wires or cables, for example.

A tension compression structural unit and method of assembling structures that comprises endwise interlapping configuration of at least three elongate members into a tension compression structural unit whereby tensegrity is maintained by tensioning a first end of each elongate member against respective first ends of each other elongate member, in interlapped array, and then anchoring each second end of each elongate membereither onto a ground surface or by interlapped configuration with additional elongate members. A stable, domic structure is thus erectable without the need of additional tensioning elements such as wires or cables, for example.

An assembly for integrating an elongate structural member is provided. The elongate structural member includes a first end portion, a second end portion, and an elongate mid-portion that extends between the first and the second end portions. The first end portion is within a first plane and the second end portion within a second plane, and the first and the second planes are offset and parallel to each other. The elongate mid-portion is sloped between the first and the second planes. each of the first and the second end portions defining therein a polygonal hole. Multiple elongate structural members may be used to assemble a lattice structure.

A variable shape frame includes: a plurality of extendable arms to form a frame; and a coupling mechanism that couples ends of adjoining extendable arms. Each extendable arm includes cross units having by two rigid members crossing in an X-shape and pivotally coupled by a middle coupling shaft, and an end coupling portion pivotally coupling ends of adjoining cross units. The end coupling portion includes inner and outer end coupling shafts. Each rigid member has a curved shape. The coupling mechanism includes first bent members each pivotally coupling the inner end coupling shaft of one extendable arm and the outer end coupling shaft of the other extendable arm, second bent members each pivotally coupling the outer end coupling shaft of the one extendable arm and the inner end coupling shaft of the other extendable arm, and bent portion coupling shafts each pivotally coupling the first and second bent members.