Abstract of Thesis Presented to the Graduate School
 of the University of Florida in Partial Fulfillment of the
 Requirements for the Degree of Master of Science

 DESIGN OF CLOSED LOOP DEPLOYABLE STRUCTURES FOR TENTS AND
 MASTS

 By

 Karthigeyan Puthurloganathan

 May 2004

Chairman: Carl D. Crane, III
Major Department: Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

 This thesis presents the description of construction, stages of deployment, working

principle and the mechanism design of closed loop deployable structures for collapsible

tents and masts. Deployable structures are structures capable of large configuration

changes. Deployable structures are usually used for easy storage and transportation as

they are very compact when stowed and can be deployed into their service configuration

as and when required. The structures designed in this thesis are purely spring driven.

The structures are partially self deployable, completely stowable and very compact when

stowed with minimum space utilization. The position, velocity and acceleration analysis

of both the proposed deployable structures is performed. The stiffness of the proposed

deployable mast is also compared with two other existing contemporary masts. The

structures designed in this thesis consist of only three parts which are compressible struts,

plates and hinges. These structures are very simple to construct, service and transport.