An exact nonlinear hybrid-coordinate formulation for flexible multibody systems

The previous low-order approximate nonlinear formulations succeeded in capturing the stiffening terms, but failed in simulation of mechanical systems with large deformation due to the neglect of the high-order deformation terms. In this paper, a new hybrid-coordinate formulation is proposed, which is suitable for flexible multibody systems with large deformation. On the basis of exact strain–displacement relation, equations of motion for flexible multibody system are derived by using virtual work principle. A matrix separation method is put forward to improve the efficiency of the calculation. Agreement of the present results with those obtained by absolute nodal coordinate formulation (ANCF) verifies the correctness of the proposed formulation. Furthermore, the present results are compared with those obtained by use of the linear model and the low-order approximate nonlinear model to show the suitability of the proposed models. The project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (10472066, 50475021).     

Partition method for impact dynamics of flexible multibody systems based on contact constraint

The impact dynamics of a flexible multibody system is investigated. By using a partition method, the system is divided into two parts, the local impact region and the region away from the impact. The two parts are connected by specific boundary conditions, and the system after partition is equivalent to the original system. According to the rigid-flexible coupling dynamic theory of multibody system, system＇s rigid-flexible coupling dynamic equations without impact are derived. A local impulse method for establishing the initial impact conditions is proposed. It satisfies the compatibility con- ditions for contact constraints and the actual physical situation of the impact process of flexible bodies. Based on the contact constraint method, system＇s impact dynamic equa- tions are derived in a differential-algebraic form. The contact/separation criterion and the algorithm are given. An impact dynamic simulation is given. The results show that system＇s dynamic behaviors including the energy, the deformations, the displacements, and the impact force during the impact process change dramatically. The impact makes great effects on the global dynamics of the system during and after impact.     

Regularization and stability of the constraints in the dynamics of multibody systems

In the analysis of multibody dynamics, we are often required to deal with singularity problems where the constraint Jacobian matrix may become less than full rank at some instantancous configurations. This creates numerical instability which will affect the performance of the mechanical system. A modification procedure of the constraints when they vanish or become linearly dependent is proposed to regularize the dynamics of the system. A distinction between the asymptotic stability due to the representation of the constraints (at the velocity and acceleration level), and the one due to the singularity is discussed in full in this paper. It is shown that Baumgarte technique could be extended to accommodate the representation of the constraints in the neighborhood of singularity. A two link planar manipulator undergoing large motion and passing through a singular configuration is used to illustrate the proposed stability technique.     

Screw-matrix method in dynamics of multibody systems

In the present paper the concept of screw in classical mechanics is expressed in matrix form, in order to formulate the dynamical equations of the multibody systems. The mentioned method can retain the advantages of the screw theory and avoid the shortcomings of the dual number notation. Combining the screw-matrix method with the tool of graph theory in Roberson/Wittenberg formalism. We can expand the application of the screw theory to the general case of multibody systems. For a tree system, the dynamical equations for eachj-th subsystem, composed of all the outboard bodies connected byj-th joint can be formulated without the constraint reaction forces in the joints. For a nontree system, the dynamical equations of subsystems and the kinematical consistency conditions of the joints can be derived using the loop matrix. The whole process of calculation is unified in matrix form. A three-segment manipulator is discussed as an example. This work is supported by the National Natural Science Fund.     

Recursive dynamics simulator (ReDySim): A multibody dynamics solver

Recursive formulations have significantly helped in achieving real-time computations and model-based control laws. The recursive dynamics simulator (ReDySim) is a MATLAB-based recursive solver for dynamic analysis of multibody systems. ReDySim delves upon the decoupled natural orthogonal complement approach originally developed for serial-chain manipulators. In comparison to the commercially available software, dynamic analyses in ReDySim can be performed without creating solid model. The input parameters are specified in MATLAB environment. ReDySim has the capability to incorporate any control algorithm with utmost ease. In this work, the capabilities of ReDySim for solving open-loop and closed-loop systems are shown by examples of robotic gripper, KUKA KR5 industrial manipulator and four-bar mechanism. ReDySim can be downloaded for free from http://www.redysim.co.nr and can be used almost instantly.     

Fast simulation of flexible multibody dynamics with electric-hydraulic drive system

Hardware in the loop simulation (HILS) has been investigated in the field of the multibody dynamics (MBD), which combined the MBD simulation with the actual mechanical system. The fast simulation is necessary for the HILS system in order to require the real time simulation. This paper presents a fast simulation technique using the domain decomposition method with the iteration in the flexible multibody system in which flexible linkage system and electro-hydraulic drive system are coupled with each other.     

Finite element modeling of contact conditions in multibody system dynamics

In this paper a new method is developed for the dynamic analysis of contact conditions in flexible multibody systems undergoing a rolling type of motion. The relative motion between the two contacting bodies is treated as a constraint condition describing their kinematic and geometric relations. Equations of motion of the system are presented in a matrix form making use of Kane's equations and finite element method. The method developed has been implemented in a general purpose program called DARS and applied to the simulation and analysis of a rotating wheel on a track. Both the bodies are assumed flexible and discretized using a three dimensional 8-noded isoparametric elements. The time variant constraint conditions are imposed on the nodal points located at the peripheral surfaces of the bodies under consideration. The simulation is carried out under two different boundary conditions describing the support of the track. The subsequent constraint forces associated with the generalized coordinates of the system are computed and plotted. The effects of friction are also discussed.     

Relationship between multibody dynamics computation and nonlinear vibration theory

This paper presents the ground-work of implementing the multibody dynamics codes to analyzing nonlinear coupled oscillators. The recent developments of the multibody dynamics have resulted in several computer codes that can handle large systems of differential and algebraic equations (DAE). However, these codes cannot be used in their current format without appropriate modifications. According to multibody dynamics theory, the differential equations of motion are linear in the acceleration, and the constraints are appended into the equations of motion through Lagrange's multipliers. This formulation should be able to predict the nonlinear phenomena established by the nonlinear vibration theory. This can be achieved only if the constraint algebraic equations are modified to include all the system kinematic nonlinearities. This modification is accomplished by considering secondary nonlinear displacements which are ignored in all current codes. The resulting set of DAE are solved by the Gear stiff integrator. The study also introduced the concept of constrained flexibility and uses an instantaneous energy checking function to improve integration accuracy in the numerical scheme. The general energy balance is a single scalar equation containing all the energy component contributions. The DAE solution is then compared with the solution predicted by the nonlinear vibration theory. It also establishes new foundation for the use of multibody dynamics codes in nonlinear vibration problems. It is found that the simulation CPU time is much longer than the simulation of the original equations of the system.     

A nonlinear finite-element approach for kineto-static analysis of multibody systems

Methods that treat rigid/flexible multibody systems undergoing large motion as well as deformations are often accompanied with inefficiencies and instabilities in the numerical solution due to the large number of state variables, differences in the magnitudes of the rigid and flexible body coordinates, and the time dependencies of the mass and stiffness matrices. The kineto-static methodology of this paper treats a multibody mechanical system to consist of two collections of bulky (rigid) bodies and relatively flexible ones. A mixed boundary condition nonlinear finite element problem is then formulated at each time step whose known quantities are the displacements of the nodes at the boundary of rigid and flexible bodies and its unknowns are the deformed shape of the entire structure and the loads (forces and moments) at the boundary. Partitioning techniques are used to solve the systems of equations for the unknowns, and the numerical solution of the rigid multibody system governing equations of motion is carried out. The methodology is very much suitable in modelling and predicting the impact responses of multibody system since both nonlinear and large gross motion as well as deformations are encountered. Therefore, it has been adopted for the studies of the dynamic responses of ground vehicle or aircraft occupants in different crash scenarios. The kineto-static methodology is used to determine the large motion of the rigid segments of the occupant such as the limbs and the small deformations of the flexible bodies such as the spinal column. One of the most dangerous modes of injury is the amount of compressive load that the spine experiences. Based on the developed method, a mathematical model of the occupant with a nonlinear finite element model of the lumbar spine is developed for a Hybrid II (Part 572) anthropomorphic test dummy. The lumbar spine model is then incorporated into a gross motion occupant model. The analytical results are correlated with the experimental results from the impact sled test of the dummy/seat/restraint system. With this extended occupant model containing the lumbar spine, the gross motion of occupant segments, including displacements, velocities and accelerations as well as spinal axial loads, bending moments, shear forces, internal forces, nodal forces, and deformation time histories are evaluated. This detailed information helps in assessing the level of spinal injury, determining mechanisms of spinal injury, and designing better occupant safety devices.     

Impact dynamics of multibody systems with frictional contact using joint coordinates and canonical equations of motion

This paper presents a methodology in computational dynamics for the analysis of mechanical systems that undergo intermittent motion. A canonical form of the equations of motion is derived with a minimal set of coordinates. These equations are used in a procedure for balancing the momenta of the system over the period of impact, calculating the jump in the body momentum, velocity discontinuities and rebounds. The effect of dry friction is discussed and a contact law is proposed. The present formulation is extended to open and closed-loop mechanical systems where the jumps in the constraints' momenta are also solved. The application of this methodology is illustrated with the study of impact of open-loop and closed-loop examples.     

约束多体系统的基于离散零空间的隐式龙格库塔法

将离散零空间理论应用于多体系统动力学方程的数值计算,可降低多体系统动力学方程的维数。通过给出离散零空间理论与IRK法相结合的一般数学框架,提出了多体系统动力学的基于离散零空间理论的IRK法。数值算例表明：该算法可获得较满意的数值结果,约束违约程度很小,三种积分算法算例的范数均在10^-16之内。     

Unilateral problems of dynamics

Summary Contact processes may be described by local discretizations, by rigid representation or by mixed methods incorporating both ideas. A rigid body approach is proposed for the dynamics of mechanical systems, achieving good results also for multiple-contact problems. Contacts in multibody systems are mainly considered, with the corresponding contact constraints varying with time, thus generating structure-variant systems. The equations of motion for dynamical systems with such unilateral behavior are discussed, solution methods and applications are presented. Received 3 March 1999; accepted for publication 5 May 1999     

Ride comfort evaluation for road vehicle based on rigid-flexible coupling multibody dynamics

In the present research two different whole vehicle multibody models are established respectively, including rigid and rigid-flexible coupling multibody vehicle models. The former is all composed by rigid bodies while in the later model, the flexible rear suspension is built based on the finite element method (FEM) and mode superposition method, in which the deformations of the components are considered. The ride simulations with different speeds are carried out on a 3D digitalized road, and the weighted root mean square (RMS) of accelerations on the seat surface, backrest and at the feet are calculated. The comparison between the responses of the rigid and rigid-flexible coupling multibody models shows that the flexibility of the vehicle parts significantly affects the accelerations at each position, and it is necessary to take the flexibility effects into account for the assessment of ride comfort.     

Modeling joints with clearance and friction in multibody dynamic simulation of automotive differentials

Defects in kinematic joints can sometimes highly influence the simulation response of the whole multibody system within which these joints are included. For instance, the clearance, the friction, the lubrication and the flexibility affect the transient behaviour, reduce the component life and produce noise and vibration for classical joints such as prismatics, cylindrics or universal joints. In this work, a new 3D cylindrical joint model which accounts for the clearance, the misalignment and the friction is presented. This formulation has been used to represent the link between the planet gears and the planet carrier in an automotive differential model.     

Dynamic Damage Detection and Assessment on the Bogie Frame of High-Speed Train Based on the Coupled Elastic and Multibody Dynamics Scheme

The dynamic cumulative damage of rigid-flexible coupling model of high-speed train with flexible bogie frame is performed by using the coupled scheme of elastic and multibody dynamics theories.The motion equations of the present problem are firstly established by integrating the finite element method and floating frame of reference approach based on the virtual power principle and D'Alembert principle.The process of condensing the elastic DOFs of the obtained finite element model involving the incorporation of the substructure technique and sparse approximate inverse method is tentatively carried out.Then,the motion equations are further solved by virtue of the generalized α method and the Jacobian-free Newton-Krylov technologies.And the superiority of coupled scheme is proven by comparing with the traditional approach.Finally,besides the dynamic behaviors of the considered vehicle model,the time-variations of stresses on the elastic bogie frame's dangerous nodes and the distributions of stresses of bogie frame at some specified moments are synchronously calculated and analyzed.More importantly,the real-time and time-varying cumulative damages of some typical nodes on bogie frame are investigated.     

An approach for the coupled simulation of machining processes using multibody system and smoothed particle hydrodynamics algorithms

The prediction accuracy of a simulation method is limited by its theoretical background. This fact can lead to disadvantages regarding the simulation quality when investigating systems of high complexity, e.g. containing components showing a fairly different behavior. To overcome this limitation, co-simulation approaches are used more and more, combining the advantages of different simulation disciplines. That is why we propose a new strategy for the dynamic simulation of cutting processes. The method couples Lagrangian particle methods, such as the smoothed particle hydrodynamics (SPH) method, and multibody system (MBS) tools using co-simulations. We demonstrate the capability of the new approach by providing simulation results of an orthogonal cutting process and comparing them with experimental data.     

Redundant actuators to achieve minimal vibration trajectory tracking of flexible multibodies: Theory and application

We address the problem of inverse dynamics for flexible multibodies, which arises, in trajectory tracking control of flexible multibodies such as space manipulators and articulated flexible structures. Previous research has resolved this trajectory tracking problem by computing the system inputs for feedforward control of actuators at the joints. Recently, the use of distributed actuators like electro-strictive actuators in flexible structures has introduced a new dimension to this trajectory tracking problem. In this paper we optimally utilize such actuators to aid joint actuators for tracking control, and introduce a new inverse dynamics scheme for simultaneously (1) tracking a prescribed trajectory and (2) minimizing ensuing elastic deflections. We apply this scheme for trajectory tracking of a two-link two-joint planar manipulator with joint motors and distributed electro-strictive actuators. Experimental results are presented to contrast our new scheme with other existing methods.