Thickness Accommodation in Earwig Fan Folding

Abstract Origami embodies a traditional aspect of art culture. This technique facilitates the compact folding of deployable structures and improves construction and transportation performance in engineering. While these advantages are attractive, designing deployable structures is complex because it requires consideration of material thickness. Here we introduce the thickness accommodation techniques into the highly efficient folding patterns derived from biomimetic engineering approach. The underlying simple geometrical elements within the complex crease patterns of earwig hindwings were already revealed, and design software was implemented to customize the pattern using an algorithmic design tool. However, the crease pattern has a zero thickness, and the thickness accommodation should be performed for engineering applications as a deployable structure. We propose thickness accommodations for two folding modes with mountain and valley folding line assignments. For each folding mode, the thickness accommodation solves the interference, and we make a model made of thick materials to verify the deployment behavior. The research results represent a further step toward developing biomimetic engineering applications using origami techniques based on the crease patterns of earwig hindwings.