Direct differentiation method for sensitivity analysis based on transfer matrix method for multibody systems

On one hand, the new version of transfer matrix method for multibody systems (NV‐MSTMM), has been proposed by formulating transfer equations of elements in acceleration level instead of position level as in the original discrete time transfer matrix method of multibody systems to study multibody system dynamics. This new formulation avoids local linearization and allows using any integration algorithms. On the other hand, sensitivity analysis is an important way to improve the optimization efficiency of multibody system dynamics. In this paper, a totally novel direct differentiation method based on NV‐MSTMM for sensitivity analysis of multibody systems is developed. Based on direct differentiation method, sensitivity analysis matrix for each kind of element is established. By assembling transfer matrices and sensitivity analysis matrices based on differentiation law of multiplication, the sensitivity analysis equation of overall transfer equation is deduced. The computing procedure of the proposed method is also presented. All these improvements as well as three numerical examples show that the direct differentiation method based on NV‐MSTMM is suitable for optimizing the dynamic sensitivity in multi–rigid‐body systems.     

A flexible natural coordinates formulation (FNCF) for the efficient simulation of small‐deformation multibody systems

This paper introduces the novel flexible natural coordinates formulation to model small‐deformation multibody dynamics. The main contribution of this work is its resulting constant mass matrix and quadratic constraint equations devoid of any other nonlinearities. These properties are similar to those of a natural coordinates formulation for rigid multibody systems with the addition of constant damping and stiffness matrices to model the flexibility under the assumption of small deformations. As such, it is a straightforward extension to natural coordinates while maintaining its beneficial properties. The main concept of the current approach is to introduce ample redundancy in the set of generalized coordinates to simplify the kinematics ensuring the aforementioned properties and the similarity to a natural coordinates approach. This is not achievable by standard techniques that introduce redundancy. Not only does this offer a very simple equation structure but also interesting properties toward the development of system‐level model order reduction techniques for flexible multibody systems as well as a straightforward parameter gradient extraction. The formulation accuracy is validated with a floating frame of reference implementation.     

The discrete null space method for the energy consistent integration of constrained mechanical systems. Part II: multibody dynamics

In the present work, rigid bodies and multibody systems are regarded as constrained mechanical systems at the outset. The constraints may be divided into two classes: (i) internal constraints which are intimately connected with the assumption of rigidity of the bodies, and (ii) external constraints related to the presence of joints in a multibody framework. Concerning external constraints lower kinematic pairs such as revolute and prismatic pairs are treated in detail. Both internal and external constraints are dealt with on an equal footing. The present approach thus circumvents the use of rotational variables throughout the whole time discretization. After the discretization has been completed a size‐reduction of the discrete system is performed by eliminating the constraint forces. In the wake of the size‐reduction potential conditioning problems are eliminated. The newly proposed methodology facilitates the design of energy–momentum methods for multibody dynamics. The numerical examples deal with a gyro top, cylindrical and planar pairs and a six‐body linkage. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

An efficient high-precision recursive dynamic algorithm for closed-loop multibody systems

As most closed-loop multibody systems do not have independent generalized coordinates, their dynamic equations are differential/algebraic equations (DAEs). In order to accurately solve DAEs, a usual method is using generalized α-class numerical methods to convert DAEs into difference equations by differential discretization and solve them by the Newton iteration method. However, the complexity of this method is O(n²) or more in each iteration, since it requires calculating the complex Jacobian matrix. Therefore, how to improve computational efficiency is an urgent problem. In this paper, we modify this method to make it more efficient. The first change is in the phase of building dynamic equations. We use the spatial vector note and the recursive method to establish dynamic equations (DAEs) of closed-loop multibody systems, which makes the Jacobian matrix have a special sparse structure. The second change is in the phase of solving difference equations. On the basis of the topology information of the system, we simplify this Jacobian matrix by proper matrix processing and solve the difference equations recursively. After these changes, the algorithm complexity can reach O(n) in each iteration. The algorithm proposed in this paper is not only accurate, which can control well the position/velocity constraint errors, but also efficient. It is suitable for chain systems, tree systems, and closed-loop systems.     

引入传递矩阵法的复杂多体系统连接件建模方法研究

摘 要：以复杂系统动力学建模为研究背景,在计算多体系统动力学理论指导下,提出引入传递矩阵法模拟连接件的建模方法。以柴油机机脚螺栓为例使用该方法进行建模分析,结果表明引入传递矩阵法的复杂多体系统连接件建模和分析是可行的,在不失复杂系统整体动力学特性的前提下较精确地融入了连接件的传递特性,调谐了大零部件和小连接件间耦合建模时所建立矩阵的奇异性,具有求解速度快、模型数据量小等优点。文中的建模方法给建立柴油机整机振动与抗冲击快速评估模型奠定了一定基础。     

Subsystem Global Modal Parameterization for efficient simulation of flexible multibody systems

This paper presents a new model order reduction strategy for flexible multibody simulation, namely the Subsystem Global Modal Parameterization. The proposed method is based on a system‐level reduction technique, named Global Modal Parameterization, but offers significant improvements for systems with many independent DOFs. The approach splits up the motion of a mechanism or part of a mechanism into a relative motion, in which the members move relatively with respect to each other, and a global motion of the system, in which the relative position of the members does not change. The relative motion is described by a local Global Modal Parameterization model expressed in a mechanism‐attached frame, and the global motion is described by the motion of the mechanism‐attached frame. In order to improve simulation efficiency, mass invariants are used, which are also introduced in this paper. Two numerical examples are presented, which show the good accuracy and the major simulation efficiency improvements this new approach offers. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A univariate Chebyshev polynomials method for structural systems with interval uncertainty

This paper presents an effective univariate Chebyshev polynomials method (UCM) for interval bounds estimation of uncertain structures with unknown-but-bounded parameters. The interpolation points required by the conventional collocation methods to generate the surrogate model are the tensor product of each one-dimensional (1D) interpolating point. Therefore, the computational cost is expensive for uncertain structures containing more interval parameters. To deal with this issue, the univariate decomposition is derived through the higher-order Taylor expansion. The structural system is decomposed into a sum of several univariate subsystems, where each subsystem only involves one uncertain parameter and replaces the other parameters with their midpoint value. Then the Chebyshev polynomials are utilized to fit the subsystems, in which the coefficients of these subsystems are confirmed only using the linear combination of 1D interpolation points. Next, a surrogate model of the actual structural system composed of explicit univariate Chebyshev functions is established. Finally, the extremum of each univariate function that is obtained by the scanning method is substituted into the surrogate model to determine the interval ranges of the uncertain structures. Numerical analysis is conducted to validate the accuracy and effectiveness of the proposed method.     

Hamiltonian direct differentiation and adjoint approaches for multibody system sensitivity analysis

The design of multibody systems involves high fidelity and reliable techniques and formulations that should help the analyst to make reasonable decisions. Given that constrained equations of motion for the simplest of multibody systems are highly nonlinear, determining the sensitivity terms is a computationally intensive and complex process that requires the application of special procedures. In this article, two novel Hamiltonian-based approaches are presented for efficient sensitivity analysis of general multibody systems. The developed direct differentiation and the adjoint methods are based on constrained Hamilton's canonical equations of motion. This formulation provides solutions, which are more stable as compared to the results of direct integration of equations of motion expressed in terms of accelerations due to a reduced differential index of the underlying system of differential-algebraic equations and explicit constraint imposition at the velocity level.The proposed Hamiltonian based methods are both capable of calculating the sensitivity derivatives and keeping the growth of constraint violation errors at a reasonable rate. The Hamiltonian-based procedures derived herein appear to be good alternatives to existing methods for sensitivity analysis of general multibody systems.     

Approximation of multivariate functions and evaluation of particular solutions using Chebyshev polynomial and trigonometric basis functions

A two‐stage numerical procedure using Chebyshev polynomials and trigonometric functions is proposed to approximate the source term of a given partial differential equation. The purpose of such numerical schemes is crucial for the evaluation of particular solutions of a large class of partial differential equations. Our proposed scheme provides a highly efficient and accurate approximation of multivariate functions and particular solution of certain partial differential equations simultaneously. Numerical results on the approximation of eight two‐dimensional test functions and their derivatives are given. To demonstrate that the scheme for the approximation of functions can be easily extended to evaluate the particular solution of certain partial differential equations, we solve a modified Helmholtz equation. Near machine precision can be achieved for all these test problems. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Model order reduction based on successively local linearizations for flexible multibody dynamics

An efficient method of model order reduction is proposed for the dynamic computation of a flexible multibody system undergoing both large overall motions and large deformations. The system is initially modeled by using the nonlinear finite elements of absolute nodal coordinate formulation and then locally linearized at a series of quasi-static equilibrium configurations according to the given accuracy in dynamic computation. By using the Craig-Bampton method, the reduced model is established by projecting the incremental displacements of the locally linearized system onto a set of local modal bases at the quasi-static equilibrium configuration accordingly. Afterwards, the initial conditions for the dynamic computation for the reduced model via the generalized-α integrator can be determined from the modal bases. The analysis of computation complexity is also performed. Hence, the proposed method gives time-varying and dimension-varying modal bases to elaborate the efficient model reduction. Finally, three examples are presented to validate the accuracy and efficiency of the proposed method.     

A boundary meshless method using Chebyshev interpolation and trigonometric basis function for solving heat conduction problems

A boundary meshless method has been developed to solve the heat conduction equations through the use of a newly established two‐stage approximation scheme and a trigonometric series expansion scheme to approximate the particular solution and fundamental solution, respectively. As a result, no fundamental solution is required and the closed form of approximate particular solution is easy to obtain. The effectiveness of the proposed computational scheme is demonstrated by several examples in 2D and 3D. We also compare our proposed method with the finite‐difference method and the other meshless method showed in ?arler and Vertnik (Comput. Math. Appl. 2006; 51 :1269–1282). Excellent numerical results have been observed. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

On the equivalent static load method for flexible multibody systems described with a nonlinear finite element formalism

The equivalent static load (ESL) method is a powerful approach to solve dynamic response structural optimization problems. The method transforms the dynamic response optimization into a static response optimization under multiple load cases. The ESL cases are defined based on the transient analysis response whereupon all the standard techniques of static response optimization can be used. In the last decade, the ESL method has been applied to perform the structural optimization of flexible components of mechanical systems modeled as multibody systems (MBS). The ESL evaluation strongly depends on the adopted formulation to describe the MBS and has been initially derived based on a floating frame of reference formulation. In this paper, we propose a method to derive the ESL adapted to a nonlinear finite element approach based on a Lie group formalism for two main reasons. Firstly, the finite element approach is completely general to analyze complex MBS and is suitable to perform more advanced optimization problems like topology optimization. Secondly, the selected Lie group formalism leads to a formulation of the equations of motion in the local frame, which turns out to be a strong practical advantage for the ESL evaluation. Examples are provided to validate the proposed method. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A Chebyshev collocation based sequential matrix exponential method for the generalized density evolution equation

In perspective of global approximation, this study presents a numerical method for the generalized density evolution equation (GDEE) based on spectral collocation. A sequential matrix exponential solution based on the Chebyshev collocation points is derived in consideration of the coefficient or velocity term of GDEE being constant in each time step, then the numerical procedure could be successively implemented without implicit or explicit difference schemes. The results of three numerical examples indicate that the solutions in terms of the sequential matrix exponential method for GDEE have good agreement with the analytical results or Monte Carlo simulations. For sufficiently smooth cases, there need no more than one hundred representative points to achieve a satisfied solution by the proposed method, whereas for the case in presence of severe discontinuity a few more sampling points are required to keep numerical stability and accuracy.     

Interval finite element method for dynamic response of closed‐loop system with uncertain parameters

In practical engineering, it is difficult to obtain all possible solutions of dynamic responses with sharp bounds even if an optimum scheme is adopted where there are many uncertain parameters. In this paper, using the interval finite element (IFE) method and precise time integration (PTI) method, we discuss the dynamic response of vibration control problem of structures with interval parameters. With matrix perturbation theory and interval arithmetic, the algorithm for estimating upper and lower bounds of dynamic response of the closed‐loop system is developed directly from the interval parameters. Two numerical examples are given to illustrate the application of the present method. The example 1 is used to show the applicability of the present method. The example 2 is used to show the validity of the present method by comparing the results with those obtained by the classical random perturbation method. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A novel nonsmooth dynamics method for multibody systems with friction and impact based on the symplectic discrete format

As multibody systems often involve unilateral constraints, nonsmooth phenomena, such as impacts and friction, are common in engineering. Therefore, a valid nonsmooth dynamics method is highly important for multibody systems. An accuracy representation of multibody systems is an important performance indicator of numerical algorithms, and the energy balance can be used efficiently evaluate the performance of nonsmooth dynamics methods. In this article, differential algebraic equations (DAEs) of a multibody system are constructed using the D'Alembert's principle, and a novel nonsmooth dynamics method based on symplectic discrete format is proposed. The symplectic discrete format can maintain the energy conservation of a conservative system; this property is expected to extend to nonconservative systems with nonsmooth phenomena in this article. To evaluate the properties of the proposed method, several numerical examples are considered, and the results of the proposed method are compared with those of Moreau's midpoint rule. The results demonstrate that the solutions obtained using the proposed method, which is based on the symplectic discrete format, can realize a higher solution accuracy and lower numerical energy dissipation, even under a large time step.     

A time‐stepping method for stiff multibody dynamics with contact and friction

We define a time‐stepping procedure to integrate the equations of motion of stiff multibody dynamics with contact and friction. The friction and non‐interpenetration constraints are modelled by complementarity equations. Stiffness is accommodated by a technique motivated by a linearly implicit Euler method. We show that the main subproblem, a linear complementarity problem, is consistent for a sufficiently small time step h. In addition, we prove that for the most common type of stiff forces encountered in rigid body dynamics, where a damping or elastic force is applied between two points of the system, the method is well defined for any time step h. We show that the method is stable in the stiff limit, unconditionally with respect to the damping parameters, near the equilibrium points of the springs. The integration step approaches, in the stiff limit, the integration step for a system where the stiff forces have been replaced by corresponding joint constraints. Simulations for one‐ and two‐dimensional examples demonstrate the stable behaviour of the method. Published in 2002 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A linearly implicit trapezoidal method for integrating stiff multibody dynamics with contact,joints, and friction

We present a hard constraint, linear complementarity based, method for the simulation of stiff multibody dynamics with contact, joints and friction. The approach uses a linearization of the modified trapezoidal method, incorporates a Poisson restitution model at collision, and solves only one linear complementarity problem per time step when no collisions are encountered. We prove that, under certain assumptions, the method has order two, a fact that is also demonstrated by our numerical simulations. For the unconstrained (ODE) case, the method achieves second‐order convergence and absolute stability while solving only one linear system per step. When we use a special approximation of the Jacobian matrix for the case where the stiff forces originate in springs and dampers attached to two points in the system, the linear complementarity problem can be solved for any value of the time step and numerical simulation demonstrate that the method is stiffly stable. The method was implemented in UMBRA, an industrial‐grade virtual prototyping software. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.