Adjoint sensitivity analysis of flexible multibody systems in differential-algebraic form

Abstract

In the analysis and optimization of flexible multibody systems, an efficient sensitivity analysis can be performed using the adjoint variable method. Thereby, the procedure strongly depends on the equations of motion, which can be formulated either by minimal or by redundant coordinates yielding in turn a system of ordinary or differential-algebraic equations. In the current work, redundant coordinates are used to set an adjoint system for the sensitivity analysis of flexible multibody systems with kinematic loops, which are modeled using the floating frame of reference formulation. The procedure is tested by computing the structural gradient for the flexible crank of a slider-crank mechanism and compared with a reference procedure, where the adjoint system is formulated using minimal coordinates.