Graph representation of mechanical systems

Abstract

Terminal graphs or block graphs and hybrid graphs can be the first logical step in modelling of mechanical systems. It has been shown that in the domain of body or coupled systems, the hybrid graphs method can be extended beyond simple cases as far as dynamical systems of three-dimensional constrained mechanical systems. In particular the transformation of the hybrid graph into the matrix flow graph was used for the determination of dynamic characteristics. In the case of dynamic analysis or discrete degree-of-freedom systems, the application of structural numbers simplifies the process of modelling and reduces the problem of finding dynamical characteristics, frequency equation or spectral-response characteristic. This paper presents some of these concepts in a fairly general manner and discusses relevant illustrative examples.