Motion Structures
Motion structures are simply assemblies of resistant bodies connected by
movable joints. Unlike conventional structures, they allow large shape
transformations to satisfy practical requirements and they can be used in
• shelters, emergency structures and exhibition stands,
• aircraft morphing wings,
• satellite solar panels and space antennas,
• morphing core materials for composites,
• medical implants for minimum invasive surgery.
Though traditionally the subject falls within structural engineering, motion
structures are more closely related to mechanisms, and they draw on the
principles of kinematic and geometrical analysis in their design. Indeed
their design and analysis can be viewed as an extension of the theory of
mechanisms, and can make effective use of a wealth of mathematical
principles.
This book outlines the relevant underlying theory and motion structural
concepts, and uses a number of innovative but simple structures as
examples.
Zhong You is a Fellow of Magdalen College, Oxford and lecturer at
Oxford University, UK.
Yan Chen is an Assistant Professor at Nanyang Technological University,
Singapore.