https://seas.harvard.edu/news/when-crumples-arent-flaws

Abstract

When Crumples Aren't Flaws

Engineers, designers harness crumpling behavior to make reconfigurable, bistable inflatable structures

Key Takeaways

• A Harvard team composed of engineers and designers have developed a framework for controlling where crumples form on inflatable membranes and exploit them to achieve reconfigurability.
• To demonstrate, they created lightweight inflatables that change shape and exhibit multistability.
• The work could offer new insights into designing complex, inflatable devices.

https://seas.harvard.edu/news/when-crumples-arent-flaws