A Reduced and Linearized High Fidelity Waveboard Multibody Model for Stability Analysis

In this paper, the stability of a waveboard, a human propelled two-wheeled vehicle consisting in two rotatable platforms, joined by a torsion bar and supported on two caster wheels, is analysed. A multibody model with holonomic and nonholonomic constraints is used to describe the system. The nonlinear equations of motion, which constitute a Differential-Algebraic system of equations (DAE system), are linearized along the steady forward motion resorting to a recently validated linearization procedure, which allows the maximum possible reduction of the linearized equations of motion of constrained multibody systems. The approach enables the generation of the Jacobian matrix in terms of the geometric and dynamic parameters of the multibody system, and the eigenvalues of the system are parameterized in terms of the design parameters. The resulting minimum set of linear equations leads to the elimination of spurious null eigenvalues, while retaining all the stability information in spite of the reduction of the Jacobian matrix. The linear stability results of the waveboard obtained in previous work are validated with this approach. The procedure shows an excellent computational efficiency with the waveboard, its utilization being highly advisable to linearize the equations of motion of complex constrained multibody systems.

Model-Validation and Implementation of a Path-Following Algorithm in an Autonomous Underwater Vehicle

This article studies the design, modeling, and implementation of a path-following algorithm as a guidance, navigation, and control (GNC) architecture for an autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV). First, a mathematical model is developed based on nonlinear equations of motion and parameter estimation techniques, including the model validation based on field test data. Then, the guidance system incorporates a line-of-sight (LOS) algorithm with a combination of position PID controllers. The GNC architecture includes a modular and multi-layer approach with an LOS-based, path-following algorithm in the AUV platform. Furthermore, the navigation used in the path-following algorithm is developed based on a predefined coverage area. Finally, this study addresses simulation and field test control scenarios to verify the developed GNC architecture.

A Dynamical Study of a Rotor Supported by a Radial Journal Bearing Incorporating a Spherical Squeeze Film Damper

The reduction of noises, vibration, and mechanical waves transmitting through water from the shells of submarines is essential to their safe operation and travelling. Vibrations from the rotors of the engines are widely deemed as one of the main sources to which engineers have tried to attenuate with various designs. Squeeze-film dampers can be easily integrated into rotor-bearing structures in order to lower the level of vibrations caused by rotors out of balance. For this advantage, squeeze-film dampers are widely used in air-turbine engines. This paper presents preliminary results of a numerical simulation of a shaft running on a journal bearing integrated with a squeeze-film damper and evaluates the capacity in reducing vibrations concerning the stability of static equilibrium of the shaft journal center. The proposed damper is designed in spherical shape with self-aligning capacity. The results were obtained using finite difference method and numerical integration of the full nonlinear equations of motion.

Speed Oscillations of a Vehicle Rolling on a Wavy Road

Every driver knows that his car is slowing down or accelerating when driving up or down, respectively. The same happens on uneven roads with plastic wave deformations, e.g., in front of traffic lights or on nonpaved desert roads. This paper investigates the resulting travel speed oscillations of a quarter car model rolling in contact on a sinusoidal and stochastic road surface. The nonlinear equations of motion of the vehicle road system leads to ill-conditioned differential–algebraic equations. They are solved introducing polar coordinates into the sinusoidal road model. Numerical simulations show the Sommerfeld effect, in which the vehicle becomes stuck before the resonance speed, exhibiting limit cycles of oscillating acceleration and speed, which bifurcate from one-periodic limit cycle to one that is double periodic. Analytical approximations are derived by means of nonlinear Fourier expansions. Extensions to more realistic road models by means of noise perturbation show limit flows as bundles of nonperiodic trajectories with periodic side limits. Vehicles with higher degrees of freedom become stuck before the first speed resonance, as well as in between further resonance speeds with strong vertical vibrations and longitudinal speed oscillations. They need more power supply in order to overcome the resonance peak. For small damping, the speeds after resonance are unstable. They migrate to lower or supercritical speeds of operation. Stability in mean is investigated.

Consistent Tangent Stiffness of a Three-Dimensional Wheel–Rail Interaction Element

Consistent tangent stiffness plays a crucial role in delivering a quadratic rate of convergence when using Newton’s method in solving nonlinear equations of motion. In this paper, consistent tangent stiffness is derived for a three-dimensional (3D) wheel–rail interaction element (WRI element for short) originally developed by the authors and co-workers. The algorithm has been implemented in finite element (FE) software framework (OpenSees in this paper) and proven to be effective. Application examples of wheelset and light rail vehicle are provided to validate the consistent tangent stiffness. The quadratic convergence rate is verified. The speeds of calculation are compared between the use of consistent tangent stiffness and the tangent by perturbation method. The results demonstrate the improved computational efficiency of WRI element when consistent tangent stiffness is used.

Development of a quasi-linear parameter varying model for a tiltrotor aircraft

The research presented in this paper focuses on the development of a quasi-Linear Parameter Varying (qLPV) model for the XV-15 tiltrotor aircraft. The specific category of qLPV modeling technique, known as the model stitching technique, is employed to model the time-varying dynamics of XV-15 tiltrotor aircraft over the entire flight envelope. In this modeling approach, discrete linear state-space models are interpolated through lookup tables as function of scheduling parameters with the implementation of nonlinear equations of motion. The XV-15 qLPV model is configured with four scheduling parameters: altitude, nacelle incidence angle, wing flap angle and velocity. Additionally, a computational complexity analysis is presented. In particular, computational sensitivity of qLPV models configured with lookup tables to number of states and number of scheduling parameters is demonstrated. This is done to show the feasibility of real-time implementation of qLPV models with increasing fidelity (number of states) and expanding dynamic flight envelope (number of scheduling parameters).

A Two Wheel Self-Balancing Vehicle

This paper deals with the development of the equation of motion and practical implementation of low cost two-wheel self-balancing model of a Segway transporter. The experimental model of cart was designed and made under this study. Nonlinear equations of motion of real model and linearized model were derived. To develop the mathematical model, Matlab/Simulink was applied. The mechanical part was implemented into Simulink, and a DC motor was considered as a linear system. The real model was tested for its balance by implementation of a control algorithm consisting of a complementary filter and PID algorithm on an Arduino development board with peripheral devices. The fully functional self-balancing model was used as a demonstration in the teaching process of the Mechatronics courses.

Linear Stability Analysis of a Waveboard Multibody Model With a Minimal Set of Equations

In this paper, the stability of a waveboard, the skateboard consisting in two articulated platforms, coupled by a torsion bar and supported of two caster wheels, is analysed. The waveboard presents an interesting propelling mechanism, since the rider can achieve a forward motion by means of an oscillatory lateral motion of the platforms. The system is described using a multibody model with holonomic and nonholonomic constraints. To perform the stability analysis, the nonlinear equations of motion are linearized with respect to the forward upright motion with constant speed. The linearization is carried out resorting to a novel numerical linearization procedure, recently validated with a well-acknowledged bicycle benchmark, which allows the maximum possible reduction of the linearized equations of motion of multibody systems with holonomic and nonholonomic constraints. The approach allows the expression of the Jacobian matrix in terms of the main design parameters of the multibody system under study. This paper illustrates the use of this linearization approach with a complex multibody system as the waveboard. Furthermore, a sensitivity analysis of the eigenvalues considering different scenarios is performed, and the influence of the forward speed, the casters’ inclination angle and the tori aspect ratios of the toroidal wheels on the stability of the system is analysed.

Dynamic Modeling of the Double-Nut Planetary Roller Screw Mechanism Considering Elastic Deformations

With the rising application of double-nut Planetary Roller Screw Mechanism (PRSM) into industry, increasing comprehensive studies are required to identify the interactions among motion, forces and deformations of the mechanism. A dynamic model of the double-nut PRSM with considering elastic deformations is proposed in this paper. As preloads, inertial forces and elastic deformations have a great influence on the load distribution among threads, the double-nut PRSM is discretized into a spring-mass system. An adjacency matrix is introduced, which relates the elastic displacements of nodes and the deformations of elements in the spring-mass system. Then, the compressive force acting on the spacer is derived and the equations of load distribution are given. Considering both the equilibrium of forces and the compatibility of deformations, nonlinear equations of motion for the double-nut PRSM are developed. The effectiveness of the proposed model is verified by comparing dynamic characteristics and the load distribution among threads with those from the previously published models. Then, the dynamic analysis of a double-nut PRSM is carried out, when the rotational speed of the screw and the external force acting on the nut #2 are changed periodically. The results show that if the external force is increased, the preload of the nut #1 is decreased and that of the nut #2 is increased. Although the nominal radii of rollers are the same, the maximum contact force acting on the roller #2 is much larger than that of the roller #1.

Nonrelativistic open string and Yang-Mills theory

The classical and quantum worldsheet theory describing nonrelativistic open string theory in an arbitrary nonrelativistic open and closed string background is constructed. We show that the low energy dynamics of open strings ending on n coincident D-branes in flat spacetime is described by a Galilean invariant U(n) Yang-Mills theory. We also study nonrelativistic open string excitations with winding number and demonstrate that their dynamics can be encoded into a local gauge theory in one higher dimension. By demanding conformal invariance of the boundary couplings, the nonlinear equations of motion that govern the consistent open string backgrounds coupled to an arbitrary closed background (described by a string Newton-Cartan geometry, Kalb-Ramond, and dilaton field) are derived and shown to emerge from a Galilean invariant Dirac-Born-Infeld type action.