Dynamics of flexible multibody systems using loaded-interface substructure synthesis approach

A simple numerical method for dynamic simulation of multibody systems consisting of rigid and flexible bodies is presented. This paper investigates the multibody systems with inertia properties of flexible components that undergo large angular rotations. The equation of motion is derived using the finite element/Lagrange formulation. A substructure synthesis method is employed to reduce the number of elastic coordinates of the multibody system. A modification to the traditional boundary conditions at the free interface has been incorporated. An example is given to demonstrate the accuracy of the computed results which obtained from this new free interface method. This example has been analyzed using the present free interface method and also the finite element method in order to compare the efficient and accuracy of both methods. It was shown that the new free interface substructure synthesis method provides accurate results even with lesser elements.