Designing Deployable Prefabricated Systems: A Re-reading of Rapid Deployment Patterns for Emergency Housing

Articles in Press

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Roghayyeh Haghi 1
Tahereh Akbari 2
Yousef Sajed 3
Yavar Rostamzadeh 4
1 Master's student in Architectural Engineering, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, Ardabil, Iran.
2 Department of Architecture Engineering, Ard. C., Islamic Azad University, Ardabil, Iran.
3 Department of Civil Engineering, Ard. C., Islamic Azad University, Ardabil, Iran.
4 Assistant Professor, Department of Architecture, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, Ardabil, Iran.
10.22034/he.2026.583894.1219
Abstract
Providing sustainable and standardized shelters in crises, particularly for medium-term resettlement, has consistently faced the challenge of balancing rapid deployment with bio-climatic quality. A review of the literature reveals that, despite significant geometric advancements in deployable structures, a critical gap persists between “kinematic transformation mechanisms” and “logistical and operational requirements,” hindering the development of integrated systems for emergency sites. Aiming to achieve a systemic solution, this study designs and analyzes a deployable residential unit utilizing a gear-based mechanism. The research employs an applied-developmental approach through a three-stage methodology: first, analyzing spatial requirements and emergency housing standards; second, utilizing parametric modeling in CATIA to define the geometric logic of deployment; and third, evaluating the structural behavior during transit and assembly. Findings indicate that applying parametric logic to joint design, beyond optimizing transport volume, enables rapid assembly without heavy equipment and significantly enhances structural stability compared to traditional patterns. This study's results, by clearly defining the design model for deployable modules, provide an operational framework that shifts emergency housing from static to dynamic, efficient system building. These findings pave the way for reducing operational time in crisis sites and improving housing efficiency for displaced populations.

Highlights

  1. Ballard, Z. C., Gerbo, E. J., Thrall, A. P., & Smith, B. J. (2016). Behavior of sandwich panels in a deployable structure. Journal of Structural Engineering, 142(10), 04016073.
  2. Ballard, Z. C., Thrall, A. P., & Smith, B. J. (2016). Behavior of folding sandwich panel structures: Impact of ground conditions, anchorage, and panel warping. Construction and Building Materials, 112, 1110–1122.
  3. Chong Zhao, Cui, E., Zou, S., Yang, G., Zhao, H., Sheng, Q., Zhang, L., Guo, H., Liu, R., Zhao, G., & Wang, K. (2025). One-degree-of-freedom flat-foldable thick-panel origami–kirigami structures: Modular arrays and closed polyhedral. Nature Communications, 16, 3150.
  4. Conzatti, A., Kershaw, T., Copping, A., & Coley, D. (2022). A review of the impact of shelter design on the health of displaced populations. Journal of International Humanitarian Action, 7, 1–15.
  5. Ding, S., Li, H., & Xie, X. (2022). Novel deployable panel structure integrated with thick origami for rapidly deployable shelters. Materials, 15(5), 1942.
  6. Ding, Y., Guo, H., He, Y., Huang, X., & Zhou, Y. (2022). Novel deployable panel structure integrated with thick-panel bistable composite structure. Applied Sciences, 12(6), 2896.
  7. Fosas, D., Moran, F., Natarajan, S., Orr, J., & Coley, D. A. (2020). The importance of thermal modelling and prototyping in shelter design. Building Research & Information, 48(7), 1–15.
  8. Gomes, P., Silva, R., & Almeida, M. (2023). Deployable structures for emergency housing: Mechanisms and sustainability. Automation in Construction, 151, 104917.
  9. Greer, F., & Horvath, A. (2023). Modular construction’s capacity to reduce embodied carbon emissions in California’s housing sector. Building and Environment, 232, 110432.
  10. Karagiozova, D., et al. (2023). The compressive and shear characteristics of Miura-ori forms as core materials of sandwich structures. Acta Mechanica Solida Sinica, 36, 1–14.
  11. Kausar, A., Zulfiqar, S., & Irfan, M. (2023). State-of-the-art of sandwich composite structures: Materials, design and applications. Journal of Composites Science, 7(3), 102.
  12. Liao, Y., & Krishnan, S. (2024). Deployable scissor structures: Classification of modifications and applications. Automation in Construction, 165, 105547.
  13. Liu, C., Xu, J., Zhang, Y., Zhang, J., & Zhou, W. (2024). Thin-walled deployable composite structures: A review. Thin-Walled Structures, 196, 111318.
  14. Ma, T., Zhang, L., & Han, Y. (2022). Origami-inspired reconfigurable shelters for rapid deployment. Journal of Building Engineering, 57, 104940.
  15. Maden, F. (2019). The architecture of movement: Transformable structures and spaces. Yaşar University, Turkey.
  16. Montalbano, G., & Santi, G. (2023). Sustainability of temporary housing in post-disaster scenarios: A requirement-based design strategy. Buildings, 13(12), 2952.
  17. Rahardjo, A. S., Navaratnam, S., Zhang, G., & Nguyen, K. (2024). A conceptual design and structural analysis of thick panel kirigami for deployable volumetric modular structure. Structures, 70, 107625.
  18. Sharafi, P., Mortazavi, M., Ronagh, H., & Gad, E. (2018). Development of an innovative modular foam-filled panelized system for rapidly assembled post-disaster housing. Buildings, 8(8), 97.
  19. Singh, R., Kaur, H., & Tiwari, A. (2020). Modular emergency shelters using lightweight materials. Materials Today: Proceedings, 32, 195–200.
  20. Sphere Association. (2018). The Sphere Handbook: Humanitarian Charter and Minimum Standards in Humanitarian Response. Geneva: Sphere Association.
  21. UNHCR. (2023). Emergency shelter standards and guidelines. UNHCR Emergency Handbook. Retrieved from
  22. Wang, C., Zhang, D., Li, J., & You, Z. (2022). Kirigami-inspired thick-panel deployable structures. International Journal of Solids and Structures, 243, 111752.
  23. Wang, J., Roveroni, M., Meneghetti, G., & Hao, G. (2024). Parametric design, simulation, fabrication and test of an origami-core based sandwich composite material. Mechanics Based Design of Structures and Machines.
  24. Wang, X., Li, J., & Chen, Y. (2021). Thermal insulation performance of polyurethane sandwich panels in temporary buildings. Construction and Building Materials, 290, 123210.
  25. Yeenkın, İ., Maden, F., Tosun, S., Kilit, Ö., Akgün, Y., Kiper, G., Korkmaz, K., & Gündüzalp, M. (2024). A foldable temporary shelter design. Proceedings of the IASS 2024 Symposium: Redefining the Art of Structural Design.
  26. Yin, D., Lu, W., & Hou, Y. (2024). Design strategies for deployable architecture in disaster zones. Sustainable Cities and Society, 94, 104843.
  27. Yu, H., & Bai, G. (2018). Research on modularization and sustainable design of temporary housing. Art and Design Review, 6, 125–132.
  28. Zhou, Y., & Chen, Z. (2023). Lightweight steel frame systems for rapid-deploy housing. Journal of Constructional Steel Research, 205, 107021.
  29. Zhu, Y., & Filipov, E. T. (2024). Large-scale modular and uniformly thick origami-inspired adaptable and load-carrying structures. Nature Communications, 14.

 

Keywords
Prefabricated System
Deployable
Rapid Deployment
Emergency Housing
Parametric Modeling
Subjects
  1. Ballard, Z. C., Gerbo, E. J., Thrall, A. P., & Smith, B. J. (2016). Behavior of sandwich panels in a deployable structure. Journal of Structural Engineering, 142(10), 04016073.
  2. Ballard, Z. C., Thrall, A. P., & Smith, B. J. (2016). Behavior of folding sandwich panel structures: Impact of ground conditions, anchorage, and panel warping. Construction and Building Materials, 112, 1110–1122.
  3. Chong Zhao, Cui, E., Zou, S., Yang, G., Zhao, H., Sheng, Q., Zhang, L., Guo, H., Liu, R., Zhao, G., & Wang, K. (2025). One-degree-of-freedom flat-foldable thick-panel origami–kirigami structures: Modular arrays and closed polyhedral. Nature Communications, 16, 3150.
  4. Conzatti, A., Kershaw, T., Copping, A., & Coley, D. (2022). A review of the impact of shelter design on the health of displaced populations. Journal of International Humanitarian Action, 7, 1–15.
  5. Ding, S., Li, H., & Xie, X. (2022). Novel deployable panel structure integrated with thick origami for rapidly deployable shelters. Materials, 15(5), 1942.
  6. Ding, Y., Guo, H., He, Y., Huang, X., & Zhou, Y. (2022). Novel deployable panel structure integrated with thick-panel bistable composite structure. Applied Sciences, 12(6), 2896.
  7. Fosas, D., Moran, F., Natarajan, S., Orr, J., & Coley, D. A. (2020). The importance of thermal modelling and prototyping in shelter design. Building Research & Information, 48(7), 1–15.
  8. Gomes, P., Silva, R., & Almeida, M. (2023). Deployable structures for emergency housing: Mechanisms and sustainability. Automation in Construction, 151, 104917.
  9. Greer, F., & Horvath, A. (2023). Modular construction’s capacity to reduce embodied carbon emissions in California’s housing sector. Building and Environment, 232, 110432.
  10. Karagiozova, D., et al. (2023). The compressive and shear characteristics of Miura-ori forms as core materials of sandwich structures. Acta Mechanica Solida Sinica, 36, 1–14.
  11. Kausar, A., Zulfiqar, S., & Irfan, M. (2023). State-of-the-art of sandwich composite structures: Materials, design and applications. Journal of Composites Science, 7(3), 102.
  12. Liao, Y., & Krishnan, S. (2024). Deployable scissor structures: Classification of modifications and applications. Automation in Construction, 165, 105547.
  13. Liu, C., Xu, J., Zhang, Y., Zhang, J., & Zhou, W. (2024). Thin-walled deployable composite structures: A review. Thin-Walled Structures, 196, 111318.
  14. Ma, T., Zhang, L., & Han, Y. (2022). Origami-inspired reconfigurable shelters for rapid deployment. Journal of Building Engineering, 57, 104940.
  15. Maden, F. (2019). The architecture of movement: Transformable structures and spaces. Yaşar University, Turkey.
  16. Montalbano, G., & Santi, G. (2023). Sustainability of temporary housing in post-disaster scenarios: A requirement-based design strategy. Buildings, 13(12), 2952.
  17. Rahardjo, A. S., Navaratnam, S., Zhang, G., & Nguyen, K. (2024). A conceptual design and structural analysis of thick panel kirigami for deployable volumetric modular structure. Structures, 70, 107625.
  18. Sharafi, P., Mortazavi, M., Ronagh, H., & Gad, E. (2018). Development of an innovative modular foam-filled panelized system for rapidly assembled post-disaster housing. Buildings, 8(8), 97.
  19. Singh, R., Kaur, H., & Tiwari, A. (2020). Modular emergency shelters using lightweight materials. Materials Today: Proceedings, 32, 195–200.
  20. Sphere Association. (2018). The Sphere Handbook: Humanitarian Charter and Minimum Standards in Humanitarian Response. Geneva: Sphere Association.
  21. UNHCR. (2023). Emergency shelter standards and guidelines. UNHCR Emergency Handbook. Retrieved from
  22. Wang, C., Zhang, D., Li, J., & You, Z. (2022). Kirigami-inspired thick-panel deployable structures. International Journal of Solids and Structures, 243, 111752.
  23. Wang, J., Roveroni, M., Meneghetti, G., & Hao, G. (2024). Parametric design, simulation, fabrication and test of an origami-core based sandwich composite material. Mechanics Based Design of Structures and Machines.
  24. Wang, X., Li, J., & Chen, Y. (2021). Thermal insulation performance of polyurethane sandwich panels in temporary buildings. Construction and Building Materials, 290, 123210.
  25. Yeenkın, İ., Maden, F., Tosun, S., Kilit, Ö., Akgün, Y., Kiper, G., Korkmaz, K., & Gündüzalp, M. (2024). A foldable temporary shelter design. Proceedings of the IASS 2024 Symposium: Redefining the Art of Structural Design.
  26. Yin, D., Lu, W., & Hou, Y. (2024). Design strategies for deployable architecture in disaster zones. Sustainable Cities and Society, 94, 104843.
  27. Yu, H., & Bai, G. (2018). Research on modularization and sustainable design of temporary housing. Art and Design Review, 6, 125–132.
  28. Zhou, Y., & Chen, Z. (2023). Lightweight steel frame systems for rapid-deploy housing. Journal of Constructional Steel Research, 205, 107021.
  29. Zhu, Y., & Filipov, E. T. (2024). Large-scale modular and uniformly thick origami-inspired adaptable and load-carrying structures. Nature Communications, 14.

Human Ecology

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 06 June 2026