Flexible furniture structure based on braiding technology and fiber jamming

Abstract

Inspired by the fields of composites and soft robotics, this paper designs a textile-based structure which could realize variable stiffness and variable configurations, and they thus make it present high adaptability as a flexible furniture structure. The mechanisms of the variable properties realized by the braiding and jamming, together with the fabrication considerations and analytical methods are introduced in detail. Down-scale beam elements with different profiles were physically and numerically established, based on which the distinct foldability, variable stiffness and reconfigurability are quantitated and analyzed. This study brings a new idea for the development of the indoor furniture structure.