Continuous contact force models for impact analysis in multibody systems

One method for predicting the impact response of a multibody system is based on the assumption that the impacting bodies undergo local deformations and the contact forces are continuous. In a continuous analysis, the integration of the system equations of motion is carried out during the period of contact; therefore, a model for evaluating the contact forces is required. In this paper, two such contact force models are presented, both Hertzian in nature and based upon the direct-central impact of two solid particles.At low impact velocities, the energy dissipation during impact can be represented by material damping. A model is constructed based on the general trend of the Hertz contact law in conjuction with a hysteresis damping function. The unknown parameters are determined in terms of a given coefficient of restitution and the impact velocity. When local plasticity effects are the dominant factor accounting for the dissipation of energy at high impact velocities, a Hertzian contact force model with permanent indentation is constructed. Utilizing energy and momentum considerations, the unknown parameters in the model are again evaluated. The two particle models are generalized to an impact analysis between two bodies of a multibody system.     

A multibody approach for dynamic investigation of rolling systems

Summary In the classical multibody models which are used for vehicle dynamics, the contact forces applied to the wheels are considered as external forces and must be supplied in analytical from for each particular application. Moreover, when geometrical constraints arise because several wheels are in contact with a non-planar rolling path, they also have to be specified analytically.This paper presents a multibody model where each wheel-ground contact is considered as an internal joint of the system. Some of the geometrical constraints are taken into account by means of closed-loops and generated automatically by a programme. The remaining constraints have a simple expression and allow the contact forces and the characteristics of the rolling-path to be introduced in a straightforward manner. The equations of motion of a two-wheel system moving in a plane on a non-rectilinear path are derived to illustrate the method.

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Versuch der Berechnung der Fahrzeugdynamik mittels eines Mehrkörpersystemmodells

Übersicht In den klassischen Mehrkörpersystemmodellen, welche man in der Fahrzeugdynamik verwendet, werden die Kräfte, die vom Kontaktpunkt her auf die Räder einwirken, als äußere Kräfte betrachtet und müssen bei jeder besonderen Anwendung in analytischer Form gegeben werden. Hinzu kommt noch, daß im Falle, wo geometrische Zwangsbedingungen auftreten, weil mehrere Räder mit einem unebenen Fahrweg in Kontakt sind, diese auch analytisch bestimmt sein müssen.Dieser Artikel stellt ein Mehrkörpersystemmodell vor, in welchem jeder Rad-Bodenkontakt als eine interne Bindung des Systems betrachtet wird. Einigen dieser geometrischen Zwangsbedingungen wird mittels sogenannter geschlossener kinematischer Schleifen Rechnung getragen, und sie werden automatisch mit Hilfe eines Rechnerprogramms generiert. Die restlichen Zwangsbedingungen haben eine einfache Form und erlauben eine gesetzmäßige Eingabe der Kontaktkräfte sowie der Charakteristiken des Fahrweges. Die Bewegungsgleichungen eines Zweiradsystems, welches sich in einer Ebene auf einem nicht-geradlinigen Fahrweg fortbewegt, werden abgeleitet, um diese Methode zu illustrieren.

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This research has been partially supported by Constructions Ferroviaires et Métalliques, B.N.     

On models of dynamic systems with dry friction

An approach to the design of models of dynamical systems with high dry friction in the kinematic pair is developed. The members of the kinematic pair are represented by parts of rigid bodies. The system as a whole is considered to have a variable structure. According to this assumption, two modes of motion with different dissipative characteristics are possible. The states in which the modes exchange and the motion switches over into critical modes with dynamic self-locking are established. A system with a variable transfer function between members that form a nonideal constraint is described __________ Translated from Prikladnaya Mekhanika, Vol. 43, No. 5, pp. 97–105, May 2007.     

Simulation of spatial multibody systems with friction

A formulation for modeling and simulation of friction effects in spatial multibody systems is presented. Constraint reaction forces on rigid bodies that are connected by joints that support friction are derived as functions of Lagrange multipliers, using D’Alembert’s principle. Friction forces acting on bodies are calculated as a function of joint geometry, constraint reaction forces that are functions of Lagrange multipliers, and relative velocities at constraint contact points that are determined by system kinematics. Friction forces are implemented in index 0 differential-algebraic equations of motion that are solved numerically using explicit and implicit numerical integration methods. Spatial examples are presented, yielding accurate results and demonstrating that the systems are not stiff, even in the presence of friction and stiction.     

The effect of the lubricated revolute joint parameters and hydrodynamic force models on the dynamic response of planar multibody systems

In this work a comprehensive methodology for dynamic modeling and analysis of planar multibody systems with lubricated revolute joints is presented. In general, this type of mechanical systems includes journal-bearings in which the load varies in both magnitude and direction. The fundamental issues associated with the theory of lubrication for dynamically loaded journal-bearings are revisited that allow for the evaluation of the Reynolds equation for dynamic regime. This approach permits the derivation of the suitable hydrodynamic force laws that are embedded into the dynamics of multibody systems formulation. In this work, three different hydrodynamic force models are considered, namely the Pinkus and Sternlicht approach for long journal-bearings and the Frêne et al. models for both long and short journal-bearings. Results for a planar slider?Ccrank mechanism with a lubricated revolute joint between the connecting-rod and slider are presented and utilized to discuss the assumptions and procedures adopted throughout the present study. Different test scenarios are taken into account with the purpose of performing a comparative study for quantifying the effect of the clearance size, lubricant viscosity, input crank speed and hydrodynamic force model on the dynamic response of multibody systems with lubricated revolute joints. From the global results obtained from computational simulations, it can be concluded that the clearance size, the lubricant viscosity and the operating conditions play a key role in predicting the dynamic behavior of multibody systems.     

Minimal dynamic characterization of tree-like multibody systems

The dynamic model of tree-like multibody systems is linear with respect to the parameters of mass distribution for instance when barycentric parameters are used. Thus, assuming that the parameters related to the kinematics are perfectly known, these quantities can be estimated through linear regression techniques. The necessary data are obtained by measuring the joint forces and/or torques and the resulting motion given in terms of positions, velocities and accelerations. An alternative method uses measurements of the reaction forces and torques applied to the bedplate.The linearity of the dynamic and reaction models with respect to the barycentric quantities does not however imply that the latter constitute the minimum set of parameters characterizing the mass distribution of the system. In other words, some barycentric parameters may disappear from the models or may be redundant in the sense that they appear only via linear combinations. In the first case they are not identifiable, while in the second case the linear regression technique leads to estimated values which are correct for the combinations but can be erroneous for the individual parameters.The various options taken to derive the dynamic and reaction models by use of the ROBOTRAN programme are briefly reviewed. Then the rules leading to the minimal parametrization are presented and illustrated by means of a practical example related to a robot calibration problem.     

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.     

Efficiency comparison of various friction models of a hydraulic cylinder in the framework of multibody system dynamics

Nonlinear Dynamics - Dynamic simulation of mechanical systems can be performed using a multibody system dynamics approach. The approach allows to account systems of other physical nature, such as...