Research Initiation: Structural Stiffness Variations in Flexible Multibody Dynamic Systems

该项目解决了当前越来越需要更好地理解复杂多体机械系统的结构刚度特性的问题。机器人、铰接航天器和许多其他结构都属于这类系统。目前，一般认为系统部件的结构刚度在很大的旋转运动范围内几乎是恒定的。轻量化部件的趋势使这一假设无效，并要求对柔性多体系统的结构刚度问题进行重新检查。本研究为理解这一问题和模拟复杂多体系统的大位移、小变形行为提供了新的策略和技术。

This project addresses a current and increasing need to better understand the structural stiffness characteristics of complex multi body mechanical systems. Robots, articulated spacecraft and many other configurations fall in this class of systems. Currently, it is generally assumed that the structural stiffnesses of system components are nearly constant over a wide range of rotational motion. The trend toward lighter weight components invalidates this assumption and demands a reexamination of the issue of structural stiffness for flexible multibody systems. This research develops new strategies and techniques for understanding this issue and for the simulation of large displacement, small deformation behavior of complicated multibody systems.