Abstract
Tensegrity structures are attractive as deployable space structures since they are composed mainly of flexible tension members and can thus easily be folded. To automatically deploy such structures it is proposed that the tension members are replaced or enclosed by thin-film tubes, which form a continuous volume. The structure deploys when this volume is pressurised. This concept was studied by numerical simulations of the deployment process in a zero-gravity environment using the control volume method for the fluid-structure interaction. First, single z-folded and coiled tubes were analysed to determine suitable element size, number of control volumes and gas flow rate. Then one- and three-stage tensegrity masts were modelled, folded and finally deployed. The study showed that the deployment concept is feasible.
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