A comprehensive survey of the analytical, numerical and experimental methodologies for dynamics of multibody mechanical systems with clearance or imperfect joints

TLDR: A comprehensive survey of the literature of the most relevant analytical, numerical, and experimental approaches for the kinematic and dynamic analyses of multibody mechanical systems with clearance joints is presented in this review.

About: This article is published in Mechanism and Machine Theory.The article was published on 2018-04-01 and is currently open access. It has received 271 citations till now.

Figures

Fig. 27 Test rig utilized at the University of Minho to investigate simple journal-bearings [390].

Fig. 13 Different scenarios for the slider motion inside the guide: (a) no contact; (b) one corner in contact with the guide; (c) two adjacent corners in contact with guide; (d) two opposite corners in contact with guide [83]

Fig. 21 A geared quick-return mechanism supported by four EHD lubricated spatial revolute joints [374]

Fig. 14 (a) Non contact situation; (b) penetration between the slider corner A and the guide surface [83]

Fig. 15 (a) Contact between a spherical surface and a plane; (b) contact between two plane surfaces [83]

Fig. 42 Journal surface divided into several sectors to conduct wear analysis [429].

Frequently asked questions

Q1. What are the contributions in "A comprehensive survey of the analytical, numerical and experimental methodologies for dynamics of multibody mechanical systems with clearance or imperfect joints" ?

A comprehensive survey of the literature of the most relevant analytical, numerical, and experimental approaches for the kinematic and dynamic analyses of multibody mechanical systems with clearance joints is presented in this review. The main assumptions procedures and conclusions for the different methodologies are also examined and compared. 

Q2. What future works have the authors mentioned in the paper "A comprehensive survey of the analytical, numerical and experimental methodologies for dynamics of multibody mechanical systems with clearance or imperfect joints" ?

For additional future work in the field of modeling and analysis of mechanical systems with imperfect joints, the following challenge subjects are still in need of further investigation: ( 1 ) Modeling mechanisms with multiple clearance joints, and with a variety of joints such as prismatic and universal joints, by proposing efficient numerical algorithms to simulate the complex dynamical systems ; ( 2 ) Implementation of the methodologies presented in this work to more complex mechanical systems, such as automotive systems where the compliance between contacting surfaces may be described using different contact force laws. The effect of clearance size is also worthy of further investigation, especially the coupling effects of clearance size, flexibility and friction ; ( 3 ) Flexibility of components, joint clearance, and uncertainty generally exist in multibody systems simultaneously. Dynamic analyses and optimization of complex flexible multibody systems with clearance joints and uncertainty is still a challenge subject which need to be further studied ; ( 4 ) Including of the effect of roughness and geometric imperfections of the contacting surfaces, and friction laws, including stick-slip conditions ; ( 5 ) Extending the models for the flexible and soft bodies or joints themselves in order to obtain a more accurate picture of the local body or joint deformations, impact forces, and accelerations experienced during the contact periods, and examining the intrarelation between link flexibility and joint clearance on the dynamic response a system ; ( 6 ) Carrying out an extended experimental investigation on multibody systems with lubricated joints and flexible bodies, in order to better characterize the existing models and help in identifying parameters and coming up with new models ; ( 7 ) Development of new types of joints, models, and formulations based on contact between complex shape surfaces, which are of fundamental importance in describing many real physical models such as the human skeletal biomechanical systems ; ( 8 ) Investigating new monolithic schemes to simulate dynamics of clearance joints exposed to multi-domain loads, such as temperature, heat flux, and electromagnetic force. 

Q3. Why did the velocity and acceleration curves obtained by the proposed method be smooth?

Because of the non-penetration assumption, the velocity and acceleration curves obtained by the proposed method were quite smooth. 

Q4. What are some examples of dynamically loaded journals?

Typical examples of dynamically loaded journal-bearings include the crankshaft bearings in combustion engines, and high-speed turbines bearings supporting dynamic loads caused by unbalanced rotors [325-329]. 

Q5. How did they find that the revolute clearance joint was closer to the driving crank?

through simulating the mechanism with two revolute clearance joints, these authors [133] found that compared to the connection clearance joint far from the driving crank, the revolute clearancejoint close to the driving crank would generate the larger contact forces, which would further lead to large wear rate of the revolute clearance joint close to the driving crank. 

Q6. How did Bai and Zhao predict the wear of a planar rigid slider-crank mechanism?

Using the hybrid contact force model proposed by Bai and Zhao [200] and the Archard’s wear model, Bai et al. [434, 435] also predicted the wear of a planar revolute clearance joint of a rigid four-bar mechanism. 

Q7. What is the way to smooth the force transition between the lubricated and dry contact?

To smooth the force transition between the lubricated and dry contact, a force transition model from hydrodynamic lubrication forces to dry contact forces was proposed by Flores et al. [100], which can ensure continuity in the joint reaction force. 

Q8. What are the challenges of modeling and analysis of mechanical systems with imperfect joints?

For additional future work in the field of modeling and analysis of mechanical systems with imperfect joints, the following challenge subjects are still in need of further investigation:(1) Modeling mechanisms with multiple clearance joints, and with a variety of joints such as prismatic and universal joints, by proposing efficient numerical algorithms to simulate the complex dynamical systems; 

Q9. What was the synthesis procedure used to include the friction effects at the clearance joints?

a simple friction force model based on the Coulomb’s law was utilized to include the friction effects at the clearance joints.