Finite element method in dynamics of flexible multibody systems: Modeling of holonomic constraints and energy conserving integration schemes. (English) Zbl 0972.74064

Ibrahimbegović, Adnan; Mamouri, Saïd; Taylor, Robert L.; Chen, Alecia J.

Multibody Syst. Dyn. 4, No. 2-3, 195-223 (2000).

Summary: We discuss an application of the finite element method to the modeling of flexible multibody systems employing geometrically exact structural elements. Two different approaches to handle constraints, one based on the Lagrange multiplier procedure and another based on the use of release degrees of freedom, are examined in detail. The energy conserving time-stepping scheme, which is proved to be well suited for integrating stiff differential equations governing the motion of a single flexible link, is appropriately modified and extended to deal with the nonlinear dynamics of multibody systems.

MSC:

74S05	Finite element methods applied to problems in solid mechanics
74H15	Numerical approximation of solutions of dynamical problems in solid mechanics
74K99	Thin bodies, structures
70E55	Dynamics of multibody systems
70F20	Holonomic systems related to the dynamics of a system of particles

Keywords:

holonomic constraint; finite element method; flexible multibody systems; geometrically exact structural elements; Lagrange multiplier procedure; release degrees of freedom; energy conserving time-stepping scheme; stiff differential equations; flexible link