Use of Cholesky Coordinates and the Absolute Nodal Coordinate Formulation in the Computer Simulation of Flexible Multibody Systems

In a previous publication, procedures that can be used with the absolute nodal coordinate formulation to solve the dynamic problems of flexible multibody systems were proposed. One of these procedures is based on the Cholesky decomposition. By utilizing the fact that the absolute nodal coordinate formulation leads to a constant mass matrix, a Cholesky decomposition is used to obtain a constant velocity transformation matrix. This velocity transformation is used to express the absolute nodal coordinates in terms of the generalized Cholesky coordinates. The inertia matrix associated with the Cholesky coordinates is the identity matrix, and therefore, an optimum sparse matrix structure can be obtained for the augmented multibody equations of motion. The implementation of a computer procedure based on the absolute nodal coordinate formulation and Cholesky coordinates is discussed in this paper. Numerical examples are presented in order to demonstrate the use of Cholesky coordinates in the simulation of the large deformations in flexible multibody applications.     

Formulation of Three-Dimensional Joint Constraints Using the Absolute Nodal Coordinates

A wide variety of mechanical and structural multibody systems consist ofvery flexible components subject to kinematic constraints. The widelyused floating frame of reference formulation that employs linear modelsto describe the local deformation leads to a highly nonlinear expressionfor the inertia forces and can be applied to only small deformationproblems. This paper is concerned with the formulation and computerimplementation of spatial joint constraints and forces using the largedeformation absolute nodal coordinate formulation. Unlike the floatingframe of reference formulation that employs a mixed set of absolutereference and local elastic coordinates, in the absolute nodalcoordinate formulation, global displacement and slope coordinates areused. The nonlinear kinematic constraint equations and generalized forceexpressions are expressed in terms of the absolute global displacementsand slopes. In particular, a new formulation for the sliding jointbetween two very flexible bodies is developed. A surface parameter isintroduced as an additional new variable in order to facilitate theformulation of this sliding joint. The constraint and force expressionsdeveloped in this paper are also expressed in terms of generalizedCholesky coordinates that lead to an identity inertia matrix. Severalexamples are presented in order to demonstrate the use of theformulations developed in the paper.     

Identification of Weakly Nonlinear Systems Using Describing Function Inversion

In this paper describing functions inversion is used and the restoring force of a nonlinear element in a MDOF system is characterized. The describing functions can be obtained using linearized frequency response functions (FRFs). The response of the system to harmonic excitation forces at distinct frequencies close to the resonant frequency results in linearized FRFs. The nonlinear system can be approximated at each excitation frequency by an equivalent linear system. This approximation leads to calculation of the first-order describing functions. By having the experimental describing functions calculated and the system’s responses corresponding to the nonlinear element (measured or interpolated), nonlinear parameter identification can be performed. Two numerical and experimental case studies are provided to show the applicability of this method.     

Absolute Nodal Coordinates in Digital Image Correlation

A great deal of progress has been made in recent years in the field of global digital image correlation (DIC), where higher-order, element-based approaches were proposed to improve the interpolation performance and to better capture the displacement fields. In this research, another higher-order, element-based DIC procedure is introduced. Instead of the displacements, the elements’ global nodal positions and nodal position-vector gradients, defined according to the absolute nodal coordinate formulation, are used as the searched parameters of the Newton–Raphson iterative procedure. For the finite elements, the planar isoparametric plates with 24 nodal degrees of freedom are employed to ensure the gradients’ continuity among the elements. As such, the presented procedure imposes no linearization on the strain measure, and therefore indicates a natural consistency with the nonlinear continuum theory. To verify the new procedure and to show its advantages, a real large deformation experiment and several numerical tests on the computer-generated images are studied for the standard, low-order, element-based digital image correlation and the presented procedure. The results show that the proposed procedure proves to be accurate and reliable for describing the rigid-body movement and simple deformations, as well as for determining the continuous finite strain field of a real specimen.     

Dynamic Bifurcation of Multibody Systems

In this paper, the process of loss of stability of multibody systems and structures is analyzed. A novel approach is presented and applied to the statically loaded spatial systems for the analysis of a dynamic response of systems imposed on impact, high velocity compulsive motion, or percussive forces. The analysis is based on the solution of the dynamic equations and eigenvalue problem of systems, and of the resultant motion simulation. The flexible systems are discretized using the finite element method. The dynamic equations are derived with respect to the relative coordinates of the finite elements. Large flexible deflections due to a loss of stability are simulated. The initial forms of the possible deformations are defined by the computed eigenvectors solving the eigenvalue problem for the system stiffness matrix. The critical forces and system deflections are then analyzed. Examples of bifurcation of beam and beam structure imposed on compulsive motion, percussive forces, and impact are presented.     

Optimization of Vehicle Suspension Systems for Improved Comfort of Road Vehicles Using Flexible Multibody Dynamics

Methods that account for the flexibility of multibody systems extend the range of applications to areas such as flexible robots, precision machinery, vehicle dynamics or space satellites. The method proposed here for flexible multibody models allows for the representation of complex-shaped bodies using general finite-element discretizations which deform during the dynamic loading of the system, while the gross rigid body motion of these bodies is still captured using fixed-body coordinate frames. Components of the system for which the deformations are relatively unimportant are represented with rigid bodies. This method is applied to a road vehicle where flexibility plays an important role in its ride and handling dynamic behavior. Therefore, for the study of the limit behavior of the vehicles, the use of flexible multibody models is of high importance. The design process of these vehicles, very often based on intuition and experience, can be greatly enhanced through the use of generalized optimization techniques concurrently with multibody codes. The use of sparse matrix system solvers and modal superposition, to reduce the number of flexible coordinates, in a computer simulation, assures a fast and reliable analysis tool for the optimization process. The optimum design of the vehicle is achieved through the use of an optimization algorithm with finite-differencesensitivities, where the characteristics of the vehicle components are the design variables on which appropriate constraints are imposed. The ride optimization is achieved by finding the optimum of a ride index that results from a metric that accounts for the acceleration in several key points in the vehicle properly weighted in face of their importance for the comfort of the occupant. Simulations with different road profiles are performed for different speeds to account for diverse ride situations. The results are presented and discussed in view of the different methods usedwith emphasis on models and algorithms.     

Steady-State Analysis for a Class of Sliding Mode Controlled Systems Using Describing Function Method

In this paper, the analysis of the steady-state response of the slidingmode control system is presented. The nonlinearity of the switching termin the control law is approximately characterized by using itsequivalent describing function. The parasitic dynamics is modeled as afirst-order lag transfer function, and a possible transport delay isconsidered. Subsequently, a frequency domain method is used for theprediction of limit cycles. The stability-equation method together withthe parameter plane method is proposed to predict graphically limitcycles in the system coefficient plane. Four common types of switchingfunctions are investigated. This analysis further provides an approachof switching control gain selection for suppressing the limit cycle inthe sliding mode.     

Computer Implementation of the Absolute Nodal Coordinate Formulation for Flexible Multibody Dynamics

Deformable components in multibody systems are subject to kinematic constraints that represent mechanical joints and specified motion trajectories. These constraints can, in general, be described using a set of nonlinear algebraic equations that depend on the system generalized coordinates and time. When the kinematic constraints are augmented to the differential equations of motion of the system, it is desirable to have a formulation that leads to a minimum number of non-zero coefficients for the unknown accelerations and constraint forces in order to be able to exploit efficient sparse matrix algorithms. This paper describes procedures for the computer implementation of the absolute nodal coordinate formulation' for flexible multibody applications. In the absolute nodal coordinate formulation, no infinitesimal or finite rotations are used as nodal coordinates. The configuration of the finite element is defined using global displacement coordinates and slopes. By using this mixed set of coordinates, beam and plate elements can be treated as isoparametric elements. As a consequence, the dynamic formulation of these widely used elements using the absolute nodal coordinate formulation leads to a constant mass matrix. It is the objective of this study to develop computational procedures that exploit this feature. In one of these procedures, an optimum sparse matrix structure is obtained for the deformable bodies using the QR decomposition. Using the fact that the element mass matrix is constant, a QR decomposition of a modified constant connectivity Jacobian matrix is obtained for the deformable body. A constant velocity transformation is used to obtain an identity generalized inertia matrix associated with the second derivatives of the generalized coordinates, thereby minimizing the number of non-zero entries of the coefficient matrix that appears in the augmented Lagrangian formulation of the equations of motion of the flexible multibody systems. An alternate computational procedure based on Cholesky decomposition is also presented in this paper. This alternate procedure, which has the same computational advantages as the one based on the QR decomposition, leads to a square velocity transformation matrix. The computational procedures proposed in this investigation can be used for the treatment of large deformation problems in flexible multibody systems. They have also the advantages of the algorithms based on the floating frame of reference formulations since they allow for easy addition of general nonlinear constraint and force functions.     

Modified Adams-Moulton Predictor-Corrector Method in Solving Multibody Dynamical Systems

A modified Adams-Moulton predictor-corrector method is proposed to solve multibody dynamical systems. The proposed method is obtained by combining an Adams-Bashforth predictor method and an Adams-Moulton corrector method with derived weighting coefficients. With the modification, the accuracy of the proposed method is almost one order of magnitude better than the Adams-Moulton predictor-corrector method with the same step size. Stability limits of the proposed method are also studied. Because the present method has greater stability limits than Adams-Moulton predictor-corrector methods, the proposed method has good robustness during the process of time integration. A crank-slider mechanism is used as an example to investigate the capability of the proposed method in solving multibody dynamic systems.     

A Variational Approach to Dynamics of Flexible Multibody Systems

Abstract

This paper presents a variational formulation of constrained dynamics of flexible multibody systems, using a vector-variational calculus approach. Body reference frames are used to define global position and orientation of individual bodies in the system, located and oriented by position of its origin and Euler parameters, respectively. Small strain linear elastic deformation of individual components, relative to their body reference frames, is defined by linear combinations of deformation modes that are induced by constraint reaction forces and normal modes of vibration. A library of kinematic couplings between flexible and/or rigid bodies is defined and analyzed. Variational equations of motion for multibody systems are obtained and reduced to mixed differential-algebraic equations of motion. A space structure that must deform during deployment is analyzed, to illustrate use of the methods developed     

A Gluing Algorithm for Distributed Simulation of Multibody Systems

A new gluing algorithm is presented that can be used tocouple distributed subsystem models fordynamics simulation of mechanical systems. Using this gluingalgorithm, subsystem models can be analyzed attheir distributed locations, using their own independent solvers,and on their own platforms. The gluing algorithmdeveloped relies only on information available at the subsysteminterfaces. This not only enables efficientintegration of subsystem models, but also engenders modelsecurity by limiting model access only to the exposedinterface information. These features make the algorithm suitablefor a real and practical distributed simulationenvironment.     

Optimization Problems of Controlled Multibody Systems Having Spring-Damper Actuators

The optimal control of the motion of mechanical systems is studied. A characteristic feature of these systems is the presence of passive actuators (springs, dampers, etc.). Energy-optimal control laws and structural parameters of nonlinear spring–damper actuators are determined analytically, which is necessary to impart arbitrary motion to a controllable mechanical system with n degrees of freedom. As an example, a numerical solution is presented for the problem of designing an energy-optimal spring actuator for a robot manipulator of closed kinematic structure     

多体系统动力学优化设计的增广Lagrange乘子法

针对多体系统的非线性受约束动态优化设计通用模型,基于连续可微目标函数和一阶、二阶灵敏度分析给出多体系统动力学优化设计的增广Lagrange乘子法.其中基于多体系统动力学方程的一阶设计灵敏度采用伴随变量方法进行计算,二阶设计灵敏度使用混合方法进行计算,在设计变量较多时具有较高的计算效率.最后对曲柄-滑块系统数值算例使用增广Lagrange乘子方法进行约束优化,通过对使用不同方法进行一阶灵敏度分析和二阶灵敏度分析所得的最优值、迭代次数及运行时间的比较,得出一阶灵敏度分析中使用变尺度方法效率较高,而使用二阶灵敏度分析可以进一步提高优化效率.     

柔性多体系统动力学通用算法研究

柔性多本系统运动学动力学仿真通用软件可广泛服务于工程领域,基于Ｋａｎｅ方程建立一种开发该类软件的一般算法,通过定义的辨识函数解决束识别问题,利用振型描述构件的弹性变形,建立了递推格式的运动学模型,提出了计算偏带度、偏角速度和运动微分方程系数矩阵的“０－１”法,最后给出的算例表明所建立的算法是可行的。     

多体系统动力学逆问题的一种处理方法

首先用控制力法建立多体系统动力学逆问题的运动微分方程，然后给出奇异值分解在求系统动力学响应中的应用及作用在系统中的控制力的解法，最后举了一个算例。     

A Fully Symbolic Model of Multibody Systems Containing Flexible Plates

The modelling of flexible elements in mechanical systems has been investigated via several methods issuing from both the field of multi-body dynamics and the area of structural mechanics and vibration theory. As regards the multibody approach, recursive formulations in relative coordinates are quite suitable and efficient for a large variety of applications. Such a formalism is developed here for a general multibody system containing flexible plates and in such a way that its full symbolic generation is possible within the ROBOTRAN program [1].     

Describing Function Analysis of Systems with Impacts and Backlash

This paper analyzes the dynamical properties of systems with backlashand impact phenomena based on the describing function method. It isshown that this type of nonlinearity can be analyzed in the perspectiveof the fractional calculus theory. The fractional-order dynamics isillustrated using the Nyquist plot and the results are compared withthose of standard models.     

A New Flexible Multibody Beam Element Based on the Absolute Nodal Coordinate Formulation Using the Global Shape Function and the Analytical Mode Shape Function

Several techniques for the reduced dimensionality of finite elementformulations were considered as component mode reduction methods in themiddle sixties. These techniques are widely used in flexiblemultibody simulations for solving small deformation problems. Theabsolute nodal coordinate formulation for solving large rotation anddeformation problems has been established as a full finite elementmethod instead of using similar kinds of reduction techniques. In thispaper, a reduced order absolute nodal coordinate formulation is newlyestablished by introducing the global beam shape function and theanalytical deformation modes as a full finite element. This formulationleads to a constant and symmetric mass matrix as the conventionalabsolute nodal coordinate formulation, and makes it possible to reducethe number of elements and system coordinates of the beam structurewhich undergoes large rotations and large deformations. Numericalexamples show that the excellent agreements between thepresent formulation and the conventional absolute nodal coordinateformulation using a large number of elements are examined. These results demonstratethat the present formulation has high accuracy in the sense that thepresent solutions are similar to the conventional ones with fewersystem coordinates, and high efficiency in computation.