Advances in Transfer Matrix Method of Multibody System

Abstract

Multibody system dynamics has become important theoretical tool for wide engineering problems analysis in the world. Transfer matrix method of multibody system (MS-TMM) is a new approach for multibody system dynamics, which is developed in 20 years. In this paper, the transfer matrix method for linear and nonlinear multibody systems are introduced respectively. For linear multibody systems, the new concept of body dynamics equation and augmented eigenvector, the construction method of orthogonality, and the computing method of vibration characteristics and dynamic response are introduced; For nonlinear multibody systems, the discrete time transfer matrix method of multibody system (MS-DT-TMM) are presented. The apply of the transfer matrix method for multibody systems with tree, closed loop and network structures are also introduced. The transfer matrix method has good characteristics: 1 It does not require overall dynamics equations of system and simplify the solution procedure. 2 It has high computing speed, because the system matrices are always small irrespective of the size of a system. 3 It avoids the difficulties caused by developing overall dynamic equations of a system and by computing too high order matrices. 4 It provides maximum flexibility in modeling various configurations of multibody systems, by creating library of transfer matrices and assembling them easily, and by introducing any suitable numerical integration scheme. The new method is efficient for linear and nonlinear multi-rigid-flexible-body system, and it has been paid great attention, because many engineering problem of important mechanical system were solved effectively by using this method.