Dynamics of a class of repeated systems with non-identical elastic and visco-elastic interconnections—a bond graph approach

Abstract

Dynamics of a class of repeated systems, termed here “parallel” systems, are studied. A parallel system has been defined as one consisting of identical subsystems connected in a topologically identical manner where the parameters of interconnections may not be identical and they need not be restricted to the immediate neighbourhood. The governing equations for such systems are derived in state-space form using bond graph techniques. An algorithm is established to decouple these otherwise coupled system equations so that the overall system dynamics can be studied with the same computational effort necessary in analysing a single subsystem. The procedure is illustrated by a numerical example.