Design and dynamic simulation of a 2D deployment mechanism composed with outer elastic frame and rope net

Complex rope structures are extensively utilized in aerospace and various other industries. However, their limited opening time remains a critical constraint that necessitates improvement. In this study, we propose a novel deployment mechanism design composed of a super-elastic outer frame and the inner rope net. This deployment mechanism features light weight and has the ability to maintain its shape for a long time once it is successfully deployed. We proposed a novel folding scheme and related “8” shaped shape-finding algorithm, which shows good consistence with the engineering practice. Given the significant disparity in material properties between the super-elastic outer frame and the inner fibers, as well as the complexity of multibody contacts, the simulation is conducted using a secondary development system based on the commercial multibody simulation software. Additionally, we developed a nearest-neighbor search algorithm, which significantly reduces the number of contact interactions required per simulation update interval. Besides, our system shows its ability to deal with the “bend-twist coupling” problem and the non-linear simulation of the inner fibers. The simulations carried out strongly aids the further experiment of the deployment mechanism. To validate the design and multibody simulations, a 2.4m-diameter deployment mechanism prototype was manufactured and tested using a specialized holding fixture. The deployment experiment demonstrated the net's structural integrity and successful deployment, thereby confirming accuracy of the proposed simulation program.