US Patent 10246932 Deployable sandwich-like shell structural system

One embodiment of a deployable structural system having sandwich-like shell stiffness and strength properties is constructed of an outer elastic sheet and an inner elastic sheet connected by a number of substantially rigid webs wherein hinges constitute the connections. The hinge connection spacing dimensions on the inner and outer elastic sheets differ such that the resulting assemblage may be elastically bent into a compact cylindrical configuration. Deployment is achieved through reversal of the bending process and application of sufficient external restraints such that the deployed configuration is structurally stable. Additional application embodiments are described.