Rigid and Flexible Joint Modelling in Multibody Dynamics using Finite Elements

ALBERTO CARDONA; MICHEL GERADIN; DUC BAO DOAN

COMPUTER METHODS IN APPLIED MECHANICS AND ENGINEERING

ELSEVIER SCIENCE SA

Año: 1991 vol. 89 p. 395 - 418

0045-7825

This paper presents a finite element formulation of mechanical joints for multibody dynamics. The augmented Lagrangian procedure is used to express constraints of both holonomic and non-holonomic types. The method is first demonstrated on the holonomic case of the hinge joint. It is then used to develop a wheel capable of radial deformation, slipping, breaking and coupled lateral/ torsional deformations. Both joints are formulated with the objective of being integrated into a multiple purpose finite element software for flexible mechanism analysis. Two application examples are presented to demonstrate the effectiveness of the method: the dynamic deployment of a curved reflector in space and the simulation of a nose landing gear during touch-down.