Globally Independent Coordinates for Real-Time Vehicle Simulation

1998 ◽  
Vol 122 (4) ◽  
pp. 575-582 ◽  
Author(s):  
Radu Serban ◽  
Edward J. Haug

Models of the dynamics of multibody systems generally result in a set of differential-algebraic equations (DAE). State-space methods for solving the DAE of motion are based on reduction of the DAE to ordinary differential equations (ODE), by means of local parameterizations of the constraint manifold that must be often modified during a simulation. In this paper it is shown that, for vehicle multibody systems, generalized coordinates that are dual to suspension and/or control forces in the model are independent for the entire range of motion of the system. Therefore, these additional coordinates, together with Cartesian coordinates describing the position and orientation of the chassis, form a set of globally independent coordinates. In addition to the immediate advantage of avoiding the computationally expensive redefinition of local parameterization in a state-space formulation, the existence of globally independent coordinates leads to efficient algorithms for recovery of dependent generalized coordinates. A topology based approach to identify efficient computational sequences is presented. Numerical examples with realistic vehicle handling models demonstrate the improved performance of the proposed approach, relative to the conventional Cartesian coordinate formulation, yielding real-time for vehicle simulation. [S1050-0472(00)00404-9]

Author(s):  
Radu Serban ◽  
Edward J. Haug

Abstract Models of the dynamics of multibody systems generally result in a set of differential–algebraic equations (DAE). State–space methods for solving the DAE of motion are based on reduction of the DAE to ordinary differential equations (ODE), by means of local parameterizations of the constraint manifold that must be often modified during a simulation. In this paper it is shown that, for vehicle multibody systems, generalized coordinates that are dual to suspension and/or control forces in the model are independent for the entire range of motion of the system. In addition to the immediate advantage of avoiding the computationally expensive redefinition of local parameterization, the existence of globally independent coordinates leads to efficient algorithms for recovery of dependent generalized coordinates. A topology based approach to identify efficient computational sequences is presented. Numerical examples demonstrate the improved performance of the proposed approach, relative to the conventional Cartesian coordinate formulation.


Author(s):  
Frank Naets ◽  
Gert H. K. Heirman ◽  
Wim Desmet

This paper introduces a novel model reduction technique, namely Sub-System Global Modal Parameterization (SS-GMP), for real-time simulation of flexible multibody systems. In the past, other system-level model reduction techniques have been proposed for this purpose, but these were limited in applicability due to the large storage requirements for systems with many rigid degrees-of-freedom (DOFs). However, in the SS-GMP approach, the motion of a mechanism is split up into a global motion and a relative motion of the (sub-)system. The relative motion is then reduced according to the Global Modal Parameterization, which is a model reduction procedure suitable for closed chain flexible multibody systems. In combination with suitable explicit solvers, the SS-GMP approach enables (hard) real-time simulations due to the strong reduction in the number of DOFs and the conversion of a system of differential-algebraic equations into a system of ordinary differential equations. The proposed approach is validated numerically with a quarter-car model. This fully flexible mechanism is simulated faster than real-time on a regular PC with the SS-GMP approach while providing accurate results.


Author(s):  
Dan Negrut ◽  
Edward J. Haug

Abstract Three methods for the state-space based implicit integration of differential-algebraic equations of multibody dynamics are summarized and numerically compared. In the state-space approach, the time evolution of a mechanical system is characterized using a number of generalized coordinates equal with the number of degrees of freedom of the system. In this paper these independent generalized coordinates are a subset of the Cartesian position coordinates and orientation Euler parameters of body centroidal reference frames. Depending on the method, the independent generalized coordinates are implicitly integrated and dependent quantities (including Lagrange multipliers) are determined to satisfy constraint equations at position, velocity, and acceleration levels. Five computational algorithms based on the proposed methods are used to simulate the motion of a stiff 14-body vehicle model. Results show that the proposed methods deal effectively with challenges posed by stiff mechanical system simulation. A comparison with a state-space based explicit algorithm for the simulation of the same model indicates a speed-up of approximately two orders of magnitude.


1999 ◽  
Vol 09 (03) ◽  
pp. 473-478 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. WÖSLE ◽  
F. PFEIFFER

In couplings of machines and mechanisms, backlash and friction phenomena are always occurring. Whether stick–slip phenomena take place depends on the structure of such couplings. These processes can be modeled as multibody systems with a time-varying topology. Making use of Lagrange multiplier methods with a mathematical formulation of the contact problem is very efficient for large systems with many constraints. In the following, the differential-algebraic equations are transformed into a resolvable mathematical form by means of the contact laws in equation form. Ultimately we get a nonlinear system of equations for the three-dimensional contact problem with dependent constraints. For its solution, the homotopy method will be used and applied to a simple mechanical system.


Author(s):  
Keisuke Kamiya

This paper presents a novel method for motion analysis of rigid multibody systems. In general, dynamics of multibody systems is described by differential algebraic equations with Lagrange multipliers. For efficient and accurate analysis, it is desirable to eliminate the Lagrange multipliers and dependent variables. Methods called nullspace method and Maggi’s method eliminate the Lagrange multipliers by using the nullspace matrix for the constraint Jacobian. In a previous report, the author presented a method in which the nullspace matrix is obtained by solving a differential equation together with the equation of motion of the system. In that method QR decomposition is used. In this report, reduction in computational time with the LU decomposition is attempted. In addition, treatment of singular configurations for accurate analysis is presented. Validity of the presented method is confirmed via numerical examples.


Author(s):  
H. Ren ◽  
W. D. Zhu

A spatial discretization and substructure method is developed to calculate the dynamic responses of one-dimensional systems, which consist of length-variant distributed-parameter components such as strings, rods, and beams, and lumped-parameter components such as point masses and rigid bodies. The dependent variable, such as the displacement, of a distributed-parameter component is decomposed into boundary-induced terms and internal terms. The boundary-induced terms are interpolated from the boundary motions, and the internal terms are approximated by an expansion of trial functions that satisfy the corresponding homogeneous boundary conditions. All the matching conditions at the interfaces of the components are satisfied, and the expansions of the dependent variables of the distributed-parameter components absolutely and uniformly converge. The spatial derivatives of the dependent variables, which are related to the internal forces/moments, such as the axial forces, bending moments, and shear forces, can be accurately calculated. Assembling the component equations and the geometric matching conditions that arise from the continuity relations leads to a system of differential algebraic equations (DAEs). When some matching conditions are linear algebraic equations, some generalized coordinates can be represented by others so that the number of the generalized coordinates can be reduced. The methodology is applied to moving elevator cable-car systems in Part II of this work.


Author(s):  
Stefan Reichl ◽  
Wolfgang Steiner

This work presents three different approaches in inverse dynamics for the solution of trajectory tracking problems in underactuated multibody systems. Such systems are characterized by less control inputs than degrees of freedom. The first approach uses an extension of the equations of motion by geometric and control constraints. This results in index-five differential-algebraic equations. A projection method is used to reduce the systems index and the resulting equations are solved numerically. The second method is a flatness-based feedforward control design. Input and state variables can be parameterized by the flat outputs and their time derivatives up to a certain order. The third approach uses an optimal control algorithm which is based on the minimization of a cost functional including system outputs and desired trajectory. It has to be distinguished between direct and indirect methods. These specific methods are applied to an underactuated planar crane and a three-dimensional rotary crane.


Author(s):  
Keisuke Kamiya ◽  
Yusaku Yamashita

The governing equations of multibody systems are, in general, formulated in the form of differential algebraic equations (DAEs) involving the Lagrange multipliers. For efficient and accurate analysis, it is desirable to eliminate the Lagrange multipliers and dependent variables. Methods called null space method and Maggi’s method eliminate the Lagrange multipliers by using the null space matrix for the constraint Jacobian. In previous reports, one of the authors presented methods which use the null space matrix. In the procedure to obtain the null space matrix, the inverse of a matrix whose regularity may not be always guaranteed. In this report, a new method is proposed in which the null space matrix is obtained by solving differential equations that can be always defined by using the QR decomposition, even if the constraints are redundant. Examples of numerical analysis are shown to validate the proposed method.


Author(s):  
Alessandro Fumagalli ◽  
Pierangelo Masarati ◽  
Marco Morandini ◽  
Paolo Mantegazza

This paper discusses the problem of control constraint realization applied to generic under-actuated multibody systems. The conditions for the realization are presented. Focus is placed on the tangent realization of the control constraint. An alternative condition is formulated, based on the practical observation that Differential-Algebraic Equations (DAE) need to be integrated using implicit algorithms, thus naturally leading to the solution of the problem in form of matrix pencil. The analogy with the representation of linear systems in Laplace’s domain is also discussed. The formulation is applied to the solution of simple, yet illustrative problems, related to rigid and deformable bodies. Some implications of considering deformable continua are addressed.


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