Spatial force-based non-prismatic beam element for static and dynamic analyses of circular flexure hinges in compliant mechanisms

This paper presents a spatial force-based non-prismatic beam element modeling approach for circular flexure hinges, which is capable of accurate and efficient modeling of both static and dynamic characteristics of flexure-based compliant mechanisms. The spatial force-based non-prismatic beam element is an improvement and extension of the existing beam elements by considering shear and torsional effects of circular flexure hinge. The new consistent mass matrix formulation was derived using the Unit Load method. A parallel-guided compliant mechanism was taken as an example to validate the efficiency and accuracy of the proposed approach through static and modal analyses with fewer non-prismatic beam elements, and the results are well agreed with ANSYS simulation results with massive 3D solid or 2D shell elements. The developed approach is also available to model arbitrarily shaped flexure hinges in compliant mechanisms.     

A novel analytical model for flexure-based proportion compliant mechanisms

This paper proposes a novel analytical model for flexure-based proportion compliant mechanisms. The displacement and stiffness calculations of such flexure-based compliant mechanisms are formulated based on the principle of virtual work and pseudo rigid body model (PRBM). According to the theory and method, a set of closed-form equations are deduced in this paper, which incorporate the stiffness characteristics of each flexure hinge, together with the other geometric and material properties of the compliant mechanism. The rotation center point for a corner-filleted flexure hinge is investigated based on the finite element analysis (FEA) and PRBM. An empirical equation for the rotational angle is fitted in this paper in order to calculate accurately the position of the end-point of the flexure hinge. The displacement proportion equation for such mechanisms is derived according to the new approach. Combining the new proposed design equation and the existed stiffness equation, a new proportion compliant mechanism with corner-filleted flexure hinges is designed by means of the least squares optimization. The designed models are verified by finite element analysis.     

基于类V型柔性铰链的微位移放大机构

采用新型高精度类V型柔性铰链设计了柔性微位移放大机构,以减小该类机构的寄生运动并提高其动力学性能。对类V型柔性铰链与最常见的高精度直圆型柔性铰链的性能进行了比较;在考虑柔性铰链转动中心偏移量的基础上,基于弹性力学和材料力学理论推导了基于类V型柔性铰链和基于直圆型柔性铰链的两类二级杠杆式微位移放大机构的放大比。采用ANSYS软件,建立了放大机构的有限元模型,验证了位移放大比的理论推导,并对上述两类放大机构的位移放大比、寄生运动和固有频率进行了仿真和比较。有限元分析结果显示：基于类V型柔性铰链的放大机构有着更小的寄生运动和更高的固有频率,且前2阶固有频率分别是基于直圆型柔性铰链放大机构的1.68倍和1.41倍。最后,采用微视觉测量系统测量了两类放大机构的位移放大比和寄生运动。结果表明：基于类V型和直圆型柔性铰链放大机构的放大比和相对寄生运动比分别为4.387、4.529和0.314 7、0.334 2,显示类V型柔性铰链用于微位移放大机构可有效减小寄生运动并提高动力学性能。     

直圆椭圆复合型柔性铰链研究

提出一种新型的单轴柔性铰链结构型式——直圆椭圆复合柔性铰链,它由半个直圆柔性铰链和半个椭圆柔性铰链构成。给出了直圆椭圆复合柔性铰链的柔度设计计算公式,并通过有限元方法验证了此公式的正确性。分析计算了一组不同椭圆短半轴的复合铰链实例,结果表明直圆椭圆复合柔性铰链的性能高于直圆柔性铰链。设计的直圆椭圆复合柔性铰链非常适合于需要大位移、高精度传动的应用场合。     

Dimensionless design graphs for flexure elements and a comparison between three flexure elements

This paper presents dimensionless design graphs for three types of flexure elements, based on finite element analysis. Using these graphs as a design tool, a designer can determine the optimal geometry, based on the stiffness and rotation demands of a flexure element. An example is given using the beam flexure hinge.Between the analyzed flexure hinges, a comparison is made on basis of equal hinge functionality: rotation. The result describes the maximum stiffness properties from different hinges in identical situations. A beam flexure element is preferred over a circular flexure hinge for stiffness demands in a single direction, while a cross flexure element enables medium stiffness in two perpendicular directions.     

直梁圆角形柔性铰链的柔度矩阵分析

对直梁圆角形柔性铰链的柔度矩阵进行了研究。首先,基于悬臂梁理论推导了直梁圆角形柔性铰链平面内变形的解析计算方法,建立了柔性铰链平面内柔度矩阵的闭环解析模型,并给出了rt(r为铰链圆角半径,t为铰链厚度)时柔度矩阵的简化计算公式。然后,建立了直梁圆角形柔性铰链的有限元模型,得到了柔性铰链结构参数r/t和l/t(l为铰链长度）变化时柔度矩阵解析值和有限元仿真值的相对误差,以及r/t变化时柔度矩阵简化解析值和仿真值的相对误差。结果表明:采用悬臂梁理论建立的柔性铰链柔度矩阵模型,当l/t≥4时,柔度矩阵各项参数的理论解析值与有限元仿真值相对误差在5.5%以内,当0.1≤r/t≤0.5时,两者的相对误差能够控制在9%以内,当0.2≤r/t≤0.3时,两者的相对误差能够控制在6.5%以内;当r/t≤0.3时,简化解析值与仿真值的相对误差控制在9%以内, 当r/t≤0.2时,简化解析值与仿真值的相对误差控制在7%以内,从而验证了柔度矩阵闭环解析模型的正确性。建立的直梁圆角形柔性铰链柔度矩阵闭环解析模型可为柔性铰链以及柔性体机构的设计和优化提供理论依据。     

Design and analysis of a multi-notched flexure hinge for compliant mechanisms

This article presents a new multi-notched flexure hinge, which consists of two right circular and two parabolic notches, for positioning stages based on compliant mechanisms. First, the configuration of the presented multi-notched hinge is obtained using topology optimization, and the final shape is proposed based on post-processing. Second, the dimensionless empirical equations for the stiffness, rotational precision and stress levels of the flexure hinges are developed using finite element analysis (FEA). Third, based on the established equations, the influences of the geometric parameters on the performance of the flexure hinge are investigated. Finally, to further understand the characteristics of this type of flexure hinge, comparisons with flexure hinges of various shapes are performed in terms of stiffness, rotational precision and stress levels.     

Accurate low DOF modeling of a planar compliant mechanism with flexure hinges: the equivalent beam methodology

A methodology for accurate and efficient finite elements method (FEM) simulations of planar compliant mechanisms with flexure hinges is presented. First, using symmetry/antisymmetry boundary conditions and 3D elements, one-eighth of a single hinge is simulated to determine its true stress/stiffness characteristics. A set of fictitious beams is derived, which have the identical characteristics. This set is used in conjunction with other beams that model relatively stiff links to generate an equivalent model of an entire mechanism consisting of the beam elements only. The model has a low number of degrees-of-freedom (DOF) and appears to be more accurate than any 2D FEM models, even those with very large number of DOF. The methodology has been developed specifically for the right circular flexure hinge; however, it can be applied to all types of revolute flexure hinges.     

On the modeling of flexure hinge mechanisms with finite beam elements of variable cross section

In this paper, a modeling technique for flexure hinge mechanisms is studied. Beam elements of variable cross sections are deployed within a finite element procedure to model a circular flexure hinge. The resulting finite element model has very few degrees of freedom and is accurate in both static and dynamic analysis. Furthermore the modeling approach is applied to an amplifier mechanism. Comparing the results of the proposed model with a 3D finite element reference model, high accuracy for a broad spectrum of hinge parameters is reported while reducing the number of degrees of freedom immensely.     

基于柔度比优化设计杠杆式柔性铰链放大机构

分析与研究了柔性铰链的柔度特性,用于柔性放大机构的优化设计。提出了一个通用的柔度比参数λ,探讨了具有不同柔度比λ的柔性铰链主要输出位移形式的灵敏度,分析了它对常用柔性铰链的柔度特性的影响规律。然后,以柔性铰链的柔度比λ为基本参数,在考虑柔性铰链转动中心偏移量的基础上,推导了二级杠杆式柔性铰链放大机构放大率的理论计算方法,并依据柔性铰链的柔度比特性提出了柔性放大机构的优化设计方法。开展了有限元仿真和实验研究。结果显示,优化后的柔性放大机构的放大率比优化前的放大率分别提高了0.234和0.23。实验表明,依据柔性铰链的柔度比λ对柔性放大机构进行优化设计能够有效地提高柔性放大机构的位移放大率与工作行程,进而提高放大机构的末端运动及定位精度。     

椭圆导角混合柔性铰链的设计计算与性能分析

为满足柔顺机构的大柔度要求,设计了一类新型椭圆导角混合柔性铰链。首先,以卡氏第二定理为基础推导了柔度和回转精度的计算公式,在参数的极限条件下,椭圆导角结构演化出其他三种铰链形式：直圆导角、椭圆直圆和直圆柔性铰链,使得多种柔性铰链的柔度和回转精度的计算公式合并在一组方程中,通过有限元分析验证了计算公式的正确性。其次,讨论了结构参数对柔度、回转精度和柔度精度比的影响趋势,分析结果表明,柔度与回转精度随参数的变化趋势具有相反性,且减小最小厚度是提高柔度的最佳方式。再次,比较了所提四种柔性铰链的性能,椭圆导角混合柔性铰链具有最大的柔度但回转精度较低,而直圆柔性铰链具有较高的回转精度且综合性能也较优越,但柔度最小。最后,对椭圆导角和直圆柔性铰链进行了应用研究,研究结果表明,椭圆导角混合柔性铰链在回转能力和应力水平方面具有显著优势。     

椭圆柔性铰链柔顺机构的动力学建模与分析

以椭圆的离心角为积分变量,得到椭圆柔性铰链的转角计算的积分公式,推导出椭圆柔性铰链的刚度表达式.在此基础上针对一种应用广泛的含椭圆柔性铰链的柔顺机构,建立其动力学模型,得到该机构系统的固有频率计算公式.通过算例分析了该机构的各种参量对系统固有频率以及柔性铰链刚度的影响.     

基于虚功原理的3-RRPR柔性精密定位工作台动力学分析

为了实现柔性精密操作系统的高频控制,提出一种新型空间柔性并联精密定位工作台系统,该工作台采用多个压电陶瓷驱动方式,通过半圆形凹槽单自由度柔性铰链的弹性变形实现末端执行件3平动自由度的主动调整.根据机构伪刚体模型,采用矢量闭环方法建立其位置、速度以及加速度方程,并结合柔性铰链弹性应变能,采用虚功原理方法进行动力学分析,推...     

A generalized analytical compliance model for transversely symmetric three-segment flexure hinges

This paper presents a generalized compliance model for a three-segment notch flexure hinge with transverse symmetry. This flexure hinge configuration is most frequently employed in planar-motion, small-displacement compliant mechanisms. The axial and bending compliances are derived for this flexure hinge based on the compliances of two flexure components. The derivation is generalized such that it can be applied to various segment geometries. Using this open-ended model, a three-segment right elliptical corner-filleted flexure hinge design was analyzed. This geometric configuration introduces additional geometric parameters, which can be used to optimize the compliance of the flexure hinge without modifying its gross dimensions. The results of the analysis were validated in part by modifying the geometric parameters of the center segment and elliptical corner fillets to form limiting cases corresponding to several previously investigated configurations, namely right elliptical, three-segment right circular corner-filleted, and right circular geometries. Finite element analysis simulation and experimental testing were used to further validate the three-segment right elliptical corner-filleted analytical model. Additional simulations based on the analytical model were performed to highlight the influence of geometric parameters on compliances and to investigate shear effects for short flexure hinges.     

另一类椭圆柔性铰链

本文提出了一类椭圆柔性铰链——深切口椭圆柔性铰链,其切口的宽度为椭圆的短轴,而切口的深度为椭圆的长半轴。基于材料力学中的变截面梁的弯曲理论,通过引入离心角作为积分变量,推导了计算这类柔性铰链柔度、转动精度和最大应力的计算公式,这些公式具有简洁、规范等特点,非常有利于工程设计中的计算和分析。最后,用有限元分析软件ANSYS分析了多个不同尺寸的椭圆柔性铰链。有限元方法分析结果与此解析计算公式的计算结果与吻合得很好,说明了这些解析计算公式的正确性。研究表明,这类铰链非常适合于要求高精度传动的应用场合。     

压电位移放大机构的力学解析模型及有限元分析

研究了压电位移放大机构的运动学和动力学建模问题。基于能量守恒原理和弹性梁弯曲理论推导了桥式位移放大机构的位移放大比等静力学解析模型;在此基础上,通过拉格朗日方程建立了桥式位移放大机构的固有频率解析模型。通过有限元计算验证和分析了提出的解析模型的可行性和优越性,并与国内外典型的位移放大比数学模型进行了比较。结果表明:由于本文提出的模型考虑了位移放大机构的拉伸和弯曲变形,并且摒弃了国内外普遍采用近似几何关系进行数学推导的思路,因此所建立的位移放大比解析模型精度更高;固有频率解析计算结果与有限元模态分析结果的相对误差约为5%。得到的结果显示:本文给出的建模方法以及位移放大比、固有频率等解析模型可为柔性机构的优化设计和研制提供依据和参考。     

椭圆柔性铰链的柔度计算

基于材料力学中的变断面梁的弯曲理论,通过引入椭圆离心角作为积分变量,直观地得到椭圆柔性铰链的系列柔度计算公式。通过定义中间参数,推导出较为简洁的解析计算公式,从而避免费时的数值积分,便于柔性铰链柔度的计算和分析。当椭圆切口的长轴和短轴长度相等时,椭圆柔性铰链变成直圆柔性铰链,这些计算公式即退化为直圆柔性铰链的柔度计算公式。运用有限元软件ANSYS分析多个不同形状的椭圆柔性铰链,有限元法分析结果与这些柔度计算公式的计算结果吻合得很好,证明了公式的正确性。     

椭圆弧柔性铰链刚度简化计算及优化设计

本文主要研究了椭圆弧柔性铰链刚度的优化设计方法。首无,针对椭圆弧柔性铰链刚度计算公式过于复杂的问题,采用幂函数非线性曲线拟合的方法,推导了椭圆弧柔性铰链刚度的近似理论计算公式。然后,基于近似理论计算公式,分析了柔性铰链的精度特性及工作时的最大应力;采用GlobalSearch全域优化指令和Fmincon局域优化指令对椭圆弧柔性铰链工作方向的最大刚度进行了优化设计。最后,采用有限元仿真和实验验证的方法证实近似理论计算公式的适用性和优化结果的可靠性。验证显示:实验结果与近似理论计算结果的相对误差小于5%,表明提出的方法不仅省去了繁杂的有限元模型建立以及计算和修改的过程,大大提高了设计效率;而且通过优化计算可以得到椭圆弧柔性铰链的最大刚度。     

Design and analyze of flexure hinges based on triply periodic minimal surface lattice

The triply periodic minimal surface lattice structure is innovatively introduced into the design of flexure hinges in this paper. Four types of triply periodic minimal surface lattices are generated by approximate mathematical expressions. The compliance characteristics of these four lattices are simulated by finite element analysis (FEA), and it is found that the primitive lattice (P-lattice) is the most suitable lattice for flexure hinges. Simplified model of single P-lattice and one-dimensional parallel structure composed of several P-lattices are proposed. Finally, the P-lattice is integrated into the beam portion of flexure hinges by Boolean operation, and this new type of flexure hinge is additively manufactured. The FEA and experimental results show that the compliance and compliance ratio of this new type of leaf flexure hinges are greatly improved.