and bottom members of the compressible strut are attached to the hinges on the vertical

members and are always at an angle with respect to the vertical members. The hinges

permit only a single degree of freedom for the compressible struts relative to the vertical

members it is attached to. A layer is defined as a combination of two compressible struts

along with two vertical members and four hinges. The vertical members of every layer at

all times are shared by two other layers and the structure has a total of four times the

number of layers on any side (N).

2.1.1 Angular Columns















 Figure 2-2. Angular column with four hinges

 Angular columns are 'L' shaped solid members that determine the height of the

structure (Figure 2-2). They house four hinges which are connected to the compressible

struts. The number of angular columns in this closed loop deployable structure is always

equal to the number of sides the structure has. Any one of the angular columns can be

chosen as the fixed link of the structure.

2.1.2 Plates

 Plates are solid members equal to the height of an angular column (Figure 2-3).

They also house four hinges to which the struts are connected. The number of plates (C)