Deployable structural assemblies, systems for deploying such structural assemblies and related methods

A method of forming a deployable structural assembly, the method comprising:

• forming a first structural component having at least one longitudinal member and having a curved shape about a longitudinal axis of the first structural component when in a relaxed state;
• forming a second structural component having at least one longitudinal member and having a curved shape about a longitudinal axis of the second structural component when in a relaxed state;
• hingedly coupling a first longitudinal edge of the first structural component to a first longitudinal edge of the second structural component along an axis substantially parallel to the longitudinal axes of the first structural component and the second structural component;
• hingedly coupling a second longitudinal edge of the first structural component to a second longitudinal edge of the second structural component along an axis substantially parallel to the longitudinal axes of the first structural component and the second structural component;
• positioning the first structural component and the second structural component to be collapsed against each other and rolled about a defined axis substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axes of the first structural component and the second structural component;
• and
• laterally offsetting the at least one longitudinal member of the first structural component relative to at least one longitudinal member of the second structural component in a direction along the defined axis.

An apparatus comprising:

• a deployable structural assembly comprising:
• a first structural component having at least one longitudinal member, the first structural component having a curved shape about a longitudinal axis of the first structural component when in a relaxed state;
• a second structural component having at least one longitudinal member, the second structural component having a curved shape about a longitudinal axis of the second structural component when in a relaxed state;
• a first plurality of discrete flex joints coupling a first edge of the first structural component and a first edge of the second structural component;
• and
• a second plurality of discrete flex joints coupling a second edge of the first structural component and a second edge of the second structural component;
• and
• a deployment mechanism, wherein the deployment mechanism is configured to deploy the deployable structural assembly from a coiled, stowed condition to a deployed, longitudinally extending condition, wherein in the stowed condition the first structural component is pressed against the second structural component.

An apparatus comprising:

• a deployable structural assembly configured to be selectively positioned in a deployed state and a stowed state comprising:
• a first structural component having at least one longitudinal member extending in a first direction, the first structural component having a curved shape about a longitudinal axis of the first structural component when positioned in the deployed state;
• and
• a second structural component having at least one longitudinal member, the second structural component having a curved shape about a longitudinal axis of the second structural component when positioned in the deployed state, the second structural component being hingedly coupled with the first structural component, wherein when the deployable structural assembly is in a stowed state, the first structural component is pressed against the second structural component and the at least one longitudinal member of the first structural component is offset relative to the at least one longitudinal member of the second structural component in a direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction;
• and
• a deployment mechanism, wherein the deployment mechanism is configured to deploy the deployable structural assembly from a coiled, stowed condition to a deployed, longitudinally extending condition.