Integrated measurement system using accelerometers and gyros as peripheral sensors to estimate the motional state of an elastic beam

Integrated navigation devices for vehicle guidance are the most common example of an integrated motion measurement system combining the signals from an inertial measurement unit (IMU consisting of three accelerometers and three gyros) and a GPS receiver with a single antenna. For this, the vehicle is traditionally assumed to be a single rigid body with six motional degrees of freedom to be determined. During periods of low vehicle dynamics the common integrated navigation systems show, however, stability problems. Nevertheless, the stability of the system can be guaranteed by distributing sensors over the vehicle structure. In this case the rigid body assumption has to be expanded to take the distributed sensors and the flexibility of the structure into account. Integrated systems in general are fusing different measuring signals by combining their benefits and blinding out their disadvantages. For instance, gyros and accelerometers are used to obtain reliable signals with a good time resolution. On the other hand, aiding sensors like radar units and strain gauges are known to be long-term accurate. Furthermore, the kernel of such integrated systems consists of an extended Kalman filter that estimates the motion state of the structure. Besides the sensor signals, the basis for the filter is an additional kinematical model of the structure which has to be developed individually. The example of the motion of an elastic beam being considered here is meant to be an approach to obtain motional measurements of a wing of a large airplane during flight. By means of a modal approach, a kinematical model of the beam was developed. This paper will compare integrated systems utilising accelerometers as peripheral sensors with systems using gyros and systems with a combination of both peripheral sensor types. Based on simulation the paper shows this approach, different sensor configurations, and estimated motion results of an elastic beam. (© 2008 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Integrated Motional Measurement for a Flexible Structure

Integrated navigation systems based on gyros and accelerometers are well established devices for vehicle guidance. The system design is traditionally based on the assumption that the vehicle is a rigid body. However, generalizing such integrated systems to flexible structures is possible. The example of the motion of a simple beam being considered here is meant to be a first approach to obtain sophisticated motional measurements of a wing of a large airplane during flight. The principle of integrated navigation systems consists of combining different measuring methods by using their specific advantages. Gyros and accelerometers are used to obtain reliable signals within a short period of time. On the other hand, aiding sensors like radar units and strain gauges are used because of their long-term accuracy. The kernel of the integrated system consists, however, of an extended Kalman filter that estimates the motion state of the structure. Besides the sensor signals, the basis for the filter is an additional kinematical model of the structure. By means of a model reduction, a kinematical model of the beam was developed. Based on simulation the paper presents this approach, the appropriate sensor set, and first estimated motion results. (© 2006 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Real-Time Simulation of Elastic Multibody Systems with Application in Vehicle Dynamics

Real-time simulation models are widely used for vehicle development, usually built up as rigid multibody systems. However, since lightweight structures are commonly used, body deformation is no longer negligible and rigid multibody simulations may be inaccurate. This work presents a real-time capable full vehicle model with a flexible car body, derived from a finite element model, whose performance has been improved by model order reduction. (© 2015 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

The tangent stiffness matrix in rigid multibody vehicle dynamics

In the development of the equations of motion of a rigid multibody system, particularly vehicles, it is quite common to linearize the equations after they are derived, or even to ignore the non-linear terms from the outset. When doing so, the tangent stiffness matrix, i.e., the stiffness term that results from preload of the system rather than physical flexibility, is often ignored. The motion analysis of preloaded mechanical systems, e.g., the ride quality analysis of vehicle suspensions, may be significantly altered by this omission. Explicit expressions for the tangent stiffness matrix for a few of the common constraint types, including the revolute joint and the rolling wheel, are derived in this article. These expressions are coded into software and included in an open-source linear equation of motion generator for rigid multibody systems. A sample automotive suspension system is analysed, comparing the results with and without the tangent stiffness matrix effects; additionally, a benchmark solution is developed using a commercial multibody dynamics code. The results provide confirmation of the significance of the tangent stiffness effect on motion analysis and correlate well with non-linear transient solutions.     

Rotationless formulation for large deformations in flexible multibody dynamics

Especially for specific applications, such as contact problems, computer methods for flexible multibody dynamics that are able to treat large deformation phenomena are important. Classical formalisms for multibody dynamics are based on rigid bodies. Their extension to flexible multibody systems is typically restricted to linear elastic material behavior whereas large deformation phenomena are formulated in the framework of the nonlinear finite element method. In the talk we address computer methods that can handle large deformations in the context of multibody systems. In particular, the link between nonlinear continuum mechanics and multibody systems is facilitated by a specific formulation of rigid body dynamics [1]. It makes possible the incorporation of state-of-the-art computer methods for large deformation problems. In the talk we focus on the treatment of large deformation contact whithin flexible multibody dynamics [2]. (© 2011 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Simulation of Multibody Systems with Nonholonomic Constraints

The paper deals with the nonholonomic multibody system dynamics from a point of view resulting from some present applications in high‐tec areas like high‐speed train technology or biomechanics of some disciplines in high‐performance sports. A formulation of nonholonomic constraints which are linear related to generalized velocities is based on a derivative‐free approach for generating Lagrangian motion equations of multibody systems with kinematical tree structure as well as for constrained multibody systems. This has been done by using di.erential‐geometric concepts in a Riemannian space. The ideas are illustrated by the classical edge condition on double‐curved surfaces. The surfaces are described by C²‐vector functions, for example by NURBS‐approximation. As an example a bobsleigh is regarded moving on a double‐curved surface.     

Using Multibody Systems for the Investigation of Dynamic Aberrations in High Precision Optics

The coupling of multibody system dynamics and optical simulations by using ray tracing through moving lens systems will be summarized for both rigid and flexible lens systems. Furthermore, a method will be introduced for efficient simulations in the time domain. This method provides a direct integration of the optical simulation into the equations of motion of a multibody system. (© 2011 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Modelling of three-dimensional mechanical systems using point coordinates with a recursive approach

In this paper, the dynamic simulation of constrained mechanical systems that are interconnected of rigid bodies is studied using projection recursive algorithm. The method uses the concepts of linear and angular momentums to generate the rigid body equations of motion in terms of the Cartesian coordinates of a dynamically equivalent constrained system of particles, without introducing any rotational coordinates and the corresponding rotational transformation matrix. Closed-chain system is transformed to open-chain by cutting suitable kinematical joints and introducing cut-joint constraints. For the resulting open-chain system, the equations of motion are generated recursively along the serial chains. An example is chosen to demonstrate the generality and simplicity of the developed formulation.     

弹性振动的闭环系统

细长体的飞行器在飞行中考虑了既有刚性运动又有弹性振动的运动,由于刚性运动对弹性振动的影响,通过安装在飞行器上面的仪表所测得的角速度作为反馈信号输入到控制器,由控制器输出端输出信号到执行机构来实现反馈控制,把刚性运动飞行器、弹性振动飞行器同时考虑作受控对象,这里我们研究了由刚性飞行器、弹性飞行器和控制器三者形成的闭环系统的弹性振动问题,得到了求闭环系统的频率和振型的公式,设计控制器使得闭环系统渐近稳定的条件和能控性、能观测性的条件。     

Non-linearity of multibody dynamic equations with respect to Lagrange multipliers: application to railway dynamics

In this paper, the dynamics of multibody systems with closed kinematical chains of bodies is considered. The main focus is set on non-linearity of the multibody equations with respect to the Lagrange multipliers. When closed chains are considered, loop cutting procedure is a solution to express the constraint equations associated with the loops. Dynamic equations of the multibody tree-like structure are thus completed with the constraint forces via the Lagrange multipliers. In the considered case of railway vehicles, constraints arise from the contact between the rigid wheels and the rails. Corresponding contact forces applied to the wheels appears via the Lagrange multipliers λ and the tangent creep forces as well. Resulting differential-algebraic equations can be transformed into an ODE system and then time-integrated using the coordinate partitioning method [3], when the system is linear with respect to λ. This paper presents an algorithm allowing us to solve this system in case of nonlinearities with respect to λ, which is typical of wheel/rail contact force models. (© 2009 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

A nonlinear finite element framework for flexible multibody dynamics

We present a uniform treatment of rigid body dynamics and nonlinear structural dynamics. The advocated approach is based on a rotationless formulation of rigid bodies, nonlinear beams and shells. In this connection, the specific kinematic assumptions are taken into account by the explicit incorporation of holonomic constraints. This approach facilitates the straightforward extension to flexible multibody dynamics by including additional constraints due to the interconnection of rigid and flexible bodies. We further address the design of energy-momentum schemes for the stable numerical integration of the underlying finite-dimensional Hamiltonian systems. To demonstrate the superior numerical performance of the proposed methodology, the numerical examples deals with a multibody system containing both rigid and flexible bodies undergoing large deformations. (© 2008 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Hybrid coordinate approach for the modelling and simulation of multibody systems

The main goal of the present work is to provide an add-on scheme for the formulation of multibody dynamics, based on natural coordinates, in regard to ideally balanced rigid bodies with high rotational spin, e.g. gyroscopes. The underlying aim of this approach is to achieve higher numerical accuracy whenever the preferred axis of rotation coincides with the balanced main axis of the body. This will be achieved by seperating the spin of the balanced rigid body along the denoted axis as an additional angular coordinate, whereas the other rotations will be covered by a carried frame, parameterized via natural coordinates. At the same time the carried frame provides a link to the existing modelling framework in terms of natural coordinates, enabling a straightforward implementation into existing multibody systems (e.g. rotary crane [2]). (© 2012 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Strapdown INS/GPS Integrated Navigation Using Geometric Algebra

A strapdown inertial navigation system (INS)/global positioning system (GPS) integrated navigation Kalman filter in terms of geometric algebra (GA) is proposed. Two error models, i.e., the additive GA error (AGAE) model and the multiplicative GA error (MGAE) model, are developed on the ground of the GA-based strapdown INS model. The AGAE model describes the navigation error by means of perturbation. In contrast, the MGAE model which is indirectly derived from the AGAE one, can physically represent the difference between the computed frame and the true frame. Subsequently, one Kalman filter is constructed on the basis of the MGAE model of the strapdown INS and the error model of GPS. A variety of simulations are carried out to test the proposed Kalman filter. The results show that the Kalman filter can reduce the navigation error remarkably.     

On the fall of a heavy rigid body in an ideal fluid

We consider a problem about the motion of a heavy rigid body in an unbounded volume of an ideal irrotational incompressible fluid. This problem generalizes a classical Kirchhoff problem describing the inertial motion of a rigid body in a fluid. We study different special statements of the problem: the plane motion and the motion of an axially symmetric body. In the general case of motion of a rigid body, we study the stability of partial solutions and point out limiting behaviors of the motion when the time increases infinitely. Using numerical computations on the plane of initial conditions, we construct domains corresponding to different types of the asymptotic behavior. We establish the fractal nature of the boundary separating these domains.     

Generalized inertia forces of rigid and flexible bodies

In the paper a method for deriving the dynamic equations of motion of rigid and flexible multibody systems is presented. Three dimensional matrices are applied for working out the configuration space dynamic equations. Finite elements are used for modeling of flexible systems. Novel generalized Newton‐Euler equations and relations for inertia forces in nodes of flexible elements are proposed. (© 2004 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

On conditions of existence of permanent rotations of connected rigid bodies system about vertical vector

In contrast to the classical problem of motion of a heavy rigid body about a fixed point where the permanent rotations are well known and completely investigated [7, 3] as the most simple and good visually demonstrated type of motions, in multibody mechanics under an increasing of quantity of the system bodies, mechanical parameters and the order of differential motion equations the study of such motions is more complicated problem. The problem on permanent rotations of two connected rigid bodies under influence of gravity force was investigated in [2, 4]. In this paper a system consisting of arbitrary constant quantity, n, of heavy rigid bodies which are sequentially jointed in a chain is considered. The conditions of existence of motions when each body permanently rotates about the vertical vector are determined. These conditions are analyzed in a general case when the bodies angular velocities are different.