Title: Geometric event constraints: design synthesis by a multibody Lagragian type I formalism

Authors: A.P. Kovacs

Addresses: Senior Technical Specialist, ZF Group Technical Center, Northville, MI, USA

Abstract: This paper introduces the geometric event constraint for the automatic design synthesis of mechanisms. Using a Lagrange type I formalism event constraints and dummy particles can efficiently find the optimal joint configuration in mechanism design studies. Two examples are presented using nonholonomic and holonomic event constraints. The holonomic system is simulated for a locus of optimal performance joint locations during mechanism articulation, providing both synthesis and analysis in one simulation. Desired system response, dependent on joint configurations, is obtained using standard multibody dynamics software avoiding additional special purpose code or optimisation routines.

Keywords: design synthesis; Euler and Lagrange formalism; geometric event constraint; holonomic; mechanical joints; rotation matrix; state variables.

DOI: 10.1504/IJVD.2002.002008

International Journal of Vehicle Design, 2002 Vol.29 No.1/2, pp.160-177

Published online: 15 Aug 2003 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article