Pseudo-Rigid-Body Model for the Flexural Beam With an Inflection Point in Compliant Mechanisms

2017 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Shun-Kun Zhu ◽  
Yue-Qing Yu

The pseudo-rigid-body model (PRBM) used to simulate compliant beams without inflection point had been well developed. In this paper, two types of PRBMs are proposed to simulate the large deflection of flexible beam with an inflection point in different configurations. These models are composed of five rigid links connected by three joints added with torsional springs and one hinge without spring representing the inflection point in the flexural beam. The characteristic radius factors of the PRBMs are determined by solving the objective function established according to the relative angular displacement of the two rigid links jointed by the hinge via genetic algorithm. The spring stiffness coefficients are obtained using a linear regression technique. The effective ranges of these two models are determined by the load index. The numerical result shows that both the tip locus and inflection point of the flexural beam with single inflection can be precisely simulated using the model proposed in this paper.

2012 ◽  
Vol 224 ◽  
pp. 18-23
Author(s):  
Yun Jiao Zhang ◽  
Guo Wu Wei ◽  
Jian Sheng Dai

Pseudo-rigid-body model (PRBM) method, which simplifies the geometrical nonlinear analysis, has become an important tool for the analysis and synthesis of compliant mechanisms. In this paper, a simplified 2R PRBM with two rigid links and two torsion springs is proposed. The characteristic radius factor and stiffness coefficients are selected as the design variables; in order to be better to simulate the tip point and tip slope, a three-dimensional objective function is formulated to optimize the new pseudo-rigid-body model. It is revealed in this paper that the precision of the tip point simulation can be improved when the coefficient of the tip slope error in the objective function is reduced.


2000 ◽  
Author(s):  
Scott M. Lyon ◽  
Larry L. Howell ◽  
Gregory M. Roach

Abstract This paper presents the development of a new pseudo-rigid-body model to model the deflection path of flexible segments with force and moment loads. Three separate loading cases are presented including: a cantilever beam with applied end-force and moment in the same direction, a cantilever beam with the applied end-force and moment in opposite directions with no inflection point being produced in the beam, and a cantilever beam with the applied end-force and moment in opposite directions which produces an inflection point in the beam. These types of segments are common in compliant mechanisms so it is important to have a method for their design and analysis.


Author(s):  
Ashok Midha ◽  
Raghvendra S. Kuber ◽  
Vivekananda Chinta ◽  
Sushrut G. Bapat

The pseudo-rigid-body model (PRBM) concept allows compliant mechanisms to be modeled using existing knowledge of rigid-body mechanisms, thereby considerably simplifying their analysis and design. The PRBMs represent the compliant segments with two or more rigid-body segments, connected using pin joints (characteristic pivots). The beam compliance is modeled using a torsional spring placed at the characteristic pivot, whose spring constant K is evaluated using a pseudo-rigid-body parameter termed as the beam stiffness coefficient. This paper presents a method to more accurately calculate the beam stiffness coefficient for a fixed-free compliant beam subjected to a combination of horizontal and vertical forces. The improved stiffness coefficient (KΘ) expressions are derived as a function of the pseudo-rigid-body angle, Θ and the load factor, n. To exemplify the application of the improved results, the expressions derived are successfully implemented in modeling a fixed-guided beam with an inflection point, allowing it to be modeled as two fixed-free beams pinned at the inflection point.


1998 ◽  
Vol 120 (3) ◽  
pp. 392-400 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Saxena ◽  
S. N. Kramer

Compliant members in flexible link mechanisms undergo large deflections when subjected to external loads. Because of this fact, traditional methods of deflection analysis do not apply. Since the nonlinearities introduced by these large deflections make the system comprising such members difficult to solve, parametric deflection approximations are deemed helpful in the analysis and synthesis of compliant mechanisms. This is accomplished by representing the compliant mechanism as a pseudo-rigid-body model. A wealth of analysis and synthesis techniques available for rigid-body mechanisms thus become amenable to the design of compliant mechanisms. In this paper, a pseudo-rigid-body model is developed and solved for the tip deflection of flexible beams for combined end loads. A numerical integration technique using quadrature formulae has been employed to solve the large deflection Bernoulli-Euler beam equation for the tip deflection. Implementation of this scheme is simpler than the elliptic integral formulation and provides very accurate results. An example for the synthesis of a compliant mechanism using the proposed model is also presented.


Author(s):  
A. Saxena ◽  
Steven N. Kramer

Abstract Compliant members in flexible link mechanisms undergo large deflections when subjected to external loads for which, traditional methods of deflection analysis do not apply Nonlinearities introduced by these large deflections make the system comprising such members difficult to solve Parametric deflection approximations are then deemed helpful in the analysis and synthesis of compliant mechanisms This is accomplished by seeking the pseudo-rigid-body model representation of the compliant mechanism A wealth of analysis and synthesis techniques available for rigid-body mechanisms thus become amenable to the design of compliant mechanisms In this paper, a pseudo-rigid-body model is developed and solved for the tip deflection of flexible beams for combined end loads with positive end moments A numerical integration technique using quadrature formulae has been employed to solve the nonlinear Bernoulli-Euler beam equation for the tip deflection Implementation of this scheme is relatively simpler than the elliptic integral formulation and provides nearly accurate results Results of the numerical integration scheme are compared with the beam finite element analysis An example for the synthesis of a compliant mechanism using the proposed model is also presented.


Author(s):  
Larry L. Howell ◽  
Ashok Midha

Abstract Compliant mechanisms gain some or all of their mobility from the flexibility of their members rather than from rigid-body joints only. More efficient and usable analysis and design techniques are needed before the advantages of compliant mechanisms can be fully utilized. In an earlier work, a pseudo-rigid-body model concept, corresponding to an end-loaded geometrically nonlinear, large-deflection beam, was developed to help fulfill this need. In this paper, the pseudo-rigid-body equivalent spring stiffness is investigated and new modeling equations are proposed. The result is a simplified method of modeling the force/deflection relationships of large-deflection members in compliant mechanisms. Flexible segments which maintain a constant end angle are discussed, and an example mechanism is analyzed. The resulting models are valuable in the visualization of the motion of large-deflection systems, as well as the quick and efficient evaluation and optimization of compliant mechanism designs.


Author(s):  
Larry L. Howell ◽  
Ashok Midha

Abstract The analysis of systems containing highly flexible members is made difficult by the nonlineararities caused by large deflections of the flexible members. The analysis and design of many such systems may be simplified by using pseudo-rigid-body approximations in modeling the flexible members. The pseudo-rigid-body model represents flexible members as rigid links, joined at pin joints with torsional springs. Appropriate values for link lengths and torsional spring stiffnesses are determined such that the deflection path and force-deflection relationships are modeled accurately. Pseudo-rigid-body approximations have been developed for initially straight beams with externally applied forces at the beam end. This work develops approximations for another fundamental type of flexible member, the initially curved beam with applied force at the beam end. This type of flexible member is commonly used in compliant mechanisms. An example of the use of the resulting pseudo-rigid-body approximations in compliant mechanisms is included.


Author(s):  
Andrew J. Nielson ◽  
Larry L. Howell

Abstract This paper uses a familiar classical mechanism, the pantograph, to demonstrate the utility of the pseudo-rigid-body model in the design of compliant mechanisms to replace rigid-link mechanisms, and to illustrate the advantages and limitations of the resulting compliant mechanisms. To demonstrate the increase in design flexibility, three different compliant mechanism configurations were developed for a single corresponding rigid-link mechanism. The rigid-link pantograph consisted of six links and seven joints, while the corresponding compliant mechanisms had no more than two links and three joints (a reduction of at least four links and four joints). A fourth compliant pantograph, corresponding to a rhomboid pantograph, was also designed and tested. The test results showed that the pseudo-rigid-body model predictions were accurate over a large range, and the mechanisms had displacement characteristics of rigid-link mechanisms in that range. The limitations of the compliant mechanisms included reduced range compared to their rigid-link counterparts. Also, the force-deflection characteristics were predicted by the pseudo-rigid-body model, but they did not resemble those for a rigid-link pantograph because of the energy storage in the flexible segments.


Author(s):  
Wenjing Wang ◽  
Yueqing Yu

Dynamic effects are very important to improving the design of compliant mechanisms. An investigation on the dynamic characteristics of planar compliant parallel-guiding mechanism is presented. Based on the pseudo-rigid-body model, the dynamic model of planar compliant parallel-guiding mechanisms is developed using the numerical methods at first. The natural frequency is then calculated, and frequency characteristics of this mechanism are studied. The numerical results show the accuracy of the proposed method for dynamic modeling of compliant mechanisms, and the relationships between the natural frequency and design parameters are analyzed clearly.


Author(s):  
Pratheek Bagivalu Prasanna ◽  
Ashok Midha ◽  
Sushrut G. Bapat

Abstract Understanding the kinematic properties of a compliant mechanism has always proved to be a challenge. A concept of compliance number offered earlier emphasized the development of terminology that aided in its determination. A method to evaluate the elastic degrees of freedom associated with the flexible segments/links of a compliant mechanism using the pseudo-rigid-body model (PRBM) concept is provided. In this process, two distinct classes of compliant mechanisms are developed involving: (i) Active Compliance and (ii) Passive Compliance. Furthermore, these also aid in a better characterization of the kinematic behavior of a compliant mechanism. A more lucid interpretation of the significance of compliance number is provided. Applications of this method to both active and passive compliant mechanisms are exemplified. Finally, an experimental procedure that aids in visualizing the degrees of freedom as calculated is presented.


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