A deployable, self stabilizing, arch- shaped structure

The self deployable-collapsible structures have many potential applications ranging from emergency shelters and facilities, through replaceable, semi-permanent structures, or space-application components. The main advantages of this system are the small volume occupied during storage and transportation, and their fast and easy erection procedure. This paper proposes and describes the design iter of a deployable system (MoDIT system), foldable in a compact bundle and self-locking in the final configuration. The first design stage ends with the choice of the best geometry of the single module, obtained collecting analitical and experimental results. The second phase consist in the proyect of a deployable arc-shaped structure, the modular unit, composed of fifteen connected standard module.The third and last phase consist in the design of MoDIT system. The work represents an experimental project: the aim is designing, detailing, assembling, a full scale model and checking a structure that could be suitable for many uses, as exhibition pavilion or emergency shelter.