Dynamic modeling and extended bifurcation analysis of flexible-link manipulator

Abstract

In this article, the nonlinear dynamic analysis of a flexible-link manipulator is presented. Especially, the possibility of chaos occurrence in the system dynamic model is investigated. Upon the occurrence of chaos, the system dynamical behavior becomes unpredictable which in turn brings about uncertainty and irregularity in the system motion. The importance of this investigation is pronounced in similar systems such as double pendulum and single-link flexible manipulator. What makes this study distinct from previous ones is the increase in the number of links as well as the changing the bifurcation parameters from system mechanical parameters to force and torque inputs. To this aim, the motion equations of the N-link robot, which are derived with the aid of the recursive Gibbs-Appell formulation and the assumed modes method, are used. In the end, the equations of motion are developed for a two-link flexible manipulator, and its nonlinear dynamical behavior is analyzed via numerical integration of discrete equations. The results are presented in the form of bifurcation diagrams (for variation of torque amplitude), time histories, phase-plane portraits, Poincaré sections, and fast Fourier transforms. The outcomes indicate that when there is no offset, the decrease in damping results in chaotic generalized modal coordinates. In addition, as the excitation frequency decreases from 2π to π, a limiting amplitude is created at 0.35 before which the behavior of generalized rigid and modal coordinates is different, while this behavior has more similarity after this point. An experimental setup is also used to check the torques as the system input.