Mechanical Design and Analysis of a Modular, Portable, and Expandable Scaffold for Civil Engineering Applications

Civil Engineering Projects requiring work at height require auxiliary structures that integrate safety with portability and easy assembly. This paper presents the case for the design of a modular, portable, and expandable scaffolding system, aimed at optimizing construction tasks in confined or difficult-to-access spaces. The mechanical design and analysis were carried out per VDI 2221 guidelines for the specification, solution generation, and detailed design phases. The 3D design was modeled in Autodesk Inventor 2026 and evaluated using static Finite Element Analysis (FEA). The results show favorable stress distribution and a safety factor greater than 5.0 in the areas under combined loading conditions, validating the structural integrity of the proposed design. This design represents an innovative solution that increases work efficiency, mobility, and safety in urban and rural civil construction environments. Its implementation can reduce prototyping costs, enhance assembly speed, and improve safety in height-related operations, making it a valuable contribution to modern construction practices.