The present paper is dedicated to the analysis of deployable tensegrity columns. The main aim of this work is to present a technique, developed by combining the finite element (FE) analysis and the multibody dynamics (MBD) simulation, which enables precise and reliable simulations of deployable structures. While the finite element model of the column provides information on structural behavior in the deployed state, the dynamical modeling allows to analyze various deployment scenarios, choose active cables for the deployment and for the self-stress application, and to control distributions of internal forces during the assembly process. An example of a deployable column based on a popular tensegrity module – a 3-strut simplex – is presented. By analyzing the proposed column with the use of the developed method it is proven that the technique is suitable for complex simulations of deployable systems.

This paper presents equilibrium mechanics and a finite element model for analysing a scissor structure that contains pivots with zero bending stiffness representing structural instability. The pivot at the centre of each structural unit, which is a feature of scissor structures, can be used to transfer the displacement between the units. It cannot, however, transfer the rotation between these units, and the angular stiffness must be considered independently for each unit. To construct a general model of the scissor structure, a scissor unit was developed using the left and right boundary connections of adjacent units to simulate a periodically symmetric structure. The proposed method allows us to obtain an accurate distribution of the internal forces and deflections without the use of special elements to account for central pivots.