Kinematics-driven deployment of an inflatable lunar habitat with nonlinear membrane response

Inflatable lunar habitats offer launch-volume efficiency but couple mechanism dynamics to a highly compliant restraint layer. This paper isolates deployability from subsequent pressurization and links three models: a FEMAP finite-element model of the complete habitat for static material screening; an MSC Adams multibody model of a three-ring, two-stage module for joint forces, work and power; and a geometrically and materially nonlinear LS-DYNA model of the dry Kevlar K300T2 restraint layer. Linear, half-cosine and quintic minimum-jerk laws are assessed for synchronized and staged motion under equal-global-time and equal-local stroke-time criteria. At equal local time, staging reduces peak mean absolute force by 22.6 − 30.6%, cumulative mechanical work by 30.4-33.3%, and peak power by 59-63%. For the minimum-jerk case, the selected deployability-affected membrane area falls from 14.86% to 9.53% of nominal lateral area. Staging is therefore beneficial only when allowed a longer global maneuver, showing that motion smoothness, timing and membrane response must be co-designed.