Nonlinear modeling and dynamic analysis of flexible structures undergoing overall motions employing mode approximation method

Abstract

This paper presents a nonlinear modeling method for dynamic analysis of flexible structures undergoing overall motions that employs the mode approximation method. This method, different from the naive nonlinear method that approximates only Cartesian deformation variables, approximates not only deformation variables but also strain variables. Geometric constraint relations between the strain variables and the deformation variables are introduced and incorporated into the formulation. Two numerical examples are solved and the reliability and the accuracy of the proposed formulation are examined through the numerical study.