A New Method for Determining the Effects of Structural Flexibility on the Dynamic Behavior of High Speed Mechanisms
Abstract A new method for the analysis of the effects of structural flexibility on the dynamic behavior of mechanical systems is presented. The developed method is in most part based on “tracing” the “propagation” of the effects of the high frequency motion requirements on the dynamic response characteristics of machines with structural flexibilities, particularly those with closed-loop kinematic structures. The method considers the “filtering” action of structural elements with flexibility. Such filtering of higher frequency motions is shown to have a predictable effect on the steady state motion of such mechanical system. The main advantage of the developed method is that the effects of such flexibilities can be determined without the need to perform the usual dynamics modeling and computer simulations. The method is shown to be very simple and readily implementable. The method is applied to a four-bar linkage mechanism with a longitudinally flexible coupler link. The obtained results are shown to be highly accurate as compared to those obtained by computer simulation. The application of the method to systematic design of machines with structural flexibility for high speed and precision operation, optimal integration of smart (active) materials into the structure of such machines, and some related issues are discussed.