On rigid origami III: local rigidity analysis

Abstract: Rigid origami is examined from the perspective of rigidity theory. First and second order rigidity are defined from local differential analysis of the consistency constraint; while the static rigidity and prestress stability are defined after finding the form of internal force and load. This article will show that first-order or static rigidity implies prestress stability, which implies second-order rigidity, which implies rigidity, but none of these is reversible. Examples are given of rigid origami structures with these different kinds of rigidity. Examining the different aspects of the rigidity of origami might give a novel perspective for the development of new folding patterns, or for the design of origami structures where some rigidity is required.