Revolute Clearance Joints Research Articles

Research on Spatial Developable Mechanism Considering Revolute Clearance Joints with Irregular Rough Surfaces

Due to assembling, manufacturing errors, and wear, irregular rough surfaces inevitably exist in joints, which will increase the contact stiffness nonlinearity at the joint of the spatial developable mechanism, and the traditional contact force model is difficult to accurately predict the contact force change of irregular rough surface clearance. Aiming at the difficulty of accurately predicting the dynamic behavior of the spatial developable mechanism caused by rough joint clearance, an improved clearance contact force modeling method based on an uncoordinated contact model is proposed in this paper. The influence of rough peak distribution on the contact area is analyzed. The stiffness of the traditional Hertz model is modified based on the probability distribution density function of the rough peak, and an improved contact force model based on dynamic contact stiffness is established. Based on the Lagrange multiplier method, the dynamics model of spatial developable mechanism is constructed. Based on the model, the dynamic analysis of the spatial expansion mechanism is carried out, and the influence of the roughness of the contact surface and the size of the clearance on the dynamic characteristics of the system are explored; as well, the influence of different clearance parameters on the dynamic characteristics of the development mechanism is revealed. Through the analysis, this paper provides a theoretical basis for predicting the effect of a spatial revolute clearance joint on the dynamic characteristics of the mechanism and lays a good foundation for the manufacture and application of the mechanism.

A new kinematic model for revolute clearance joints with noncircular bushing and pin in planar multibody systems

Due to manufacturing error and wear, the profiles of bushing and pin in revolute clearance joints are usually non-circular, while traditional kinematic models for revolute clearance joints generally assume a circular profile for the pin or bushing, which may not be able to accurately capture the kinematic behavior of real revolute joints in multibody systems. To this end, a curvature center method was proposed for the kinematic modeling of revolute clearance joints with noncircular bushing and pin. In the proposed method, both the noncircular bushing and pin were discretized, and the curvature center and radius corresponding to each discrete point were then obtained to detect the point of contact between the bushing and pin based on their kinematic constraints. The number of discrete points was determined based on both accuracy and efficiency of the proposed curvature center method, which was then applied to model a revolute clearance joint between the slider and the link of a slider-crank mechanism. Via comparison to the traditional geometric center method and discrete point method, it was validated that the proposed method can achieve a comparable accuracy in modeling revolute joints with a circular pin. The unique advantage of the proposed curvature center method is its ability in modeling revolute joints with noncircular bushing and noncircular pin, which was also demonstrated via a series of simulations. Simulation results show a significant influence of noncircular bushing and noncircular pin on the dynamic response of the multibody system. This implies the promising value of the proposed method in studying the effect of manufacturing error or wear of both bushing and pin on the system’s dynamic performance and/or service life.

Dynamics analysis of deployment process of the Bennett linkage with revolute clearance joints

Dynamics analysis of deployment process of the Bennett linkage with revolute clearance joints

Tolerance design of revolute clearance joints for aero-engine planar maneuvering mechanism by uncertain dynamic performance evaluation

Tolerance design of revolute clearance joints for aero-engine planar maneuvering mechanism by uncertain dynamic performance evaluation

Dynamic characteristic of rudder loop with rough revolute joint clearance

Dynamic characteristic of rudder loop with rough revolute joint clearance

Influence of two kinds of clearance joints on the dynamics of planar mechanical system based on a modified contact force model

This study takes the slider-crank mechanism with revolute joint and translational joint as the research object and studies the contact force model of the clearance joint and the influence of the hybrid clearance joints on the nonlinear dynamic behavior of the mechanism. A modified contact force model is established based on the simplified elastic oscillator model, which can be used as a normal force in clearance joint. In the new contact force model, the component n of the indentation depth can be arbitrarily selected and it can support the calculation of contact force for both fully elastic recovery, non-elastic recovery and fully inelastic recovery. Based on the LuGre friction model, the tangential friction model of the clearance joint is given. Thus, the normal force and tangential force during the dynamic contact of the clearance joint are formed. Combining Lagrange’s equations of the first kind with the modified normal force and tangential friction force, the dynamic equations of the multi-body system with clearance joints are established. The Baumgarte stabilization method is used to improve the numerical stability. The correctness of the dynamic prediction model in the mechanism with clearance joint is verified by experiment. The dynamic analysis of the slider-crank mechanism with mixed clearance joints shows that the revolute clearance joint has a greater influence on the mechanism than the translational clearance, and the revolute clearance joint plays a leading role in the dynamic response.

Dynamic response investigation of high-speed structural redundant parallel manipulator considering multiple spatial revolute joints with radial and axial clearances

In order to grasp dynamic characteristics of the kind of high-speed structural redundant parallel manipulator in actual work, the dynamic response of a novel high-speed structural redundant parallel manipulator considering multiple spatial revolute joints with radial and axial clearances is studied. Firstly, the dynamic model of the novel high-speed parallel manipulator considering the multiple spatial revolute clearance joints is developed and verified. Then, the influences of different factors on dynamic characteristics of parallel manipulator are explored respectively. This paper contributes to explore the effect of revolute joints clearance on total property of the manipulator.

Dynamic Investigations on the Wear Behavior of a 3D Revolute Joint Considering Time-Varying Contact Stiffness: Simulation and Experiment

The existence of the relative radial and axial movements of a revolute joint’s journal and bearing is widely known. The three-dimensional (3D) revolute joint model considers relative radial and axial clearances; therefore, the freedoms of motion and contact scenarios are more realistic than those of the two-dimensional model. This paper proposes a wear model that integrates the modeling of a 3D revolute clearance joint and the contact force and wear depth calculations. Time-varying contact stiffness is first considered in the contact force model. Also, a cycle-update wear depth calculation strategy is presented. A digital image correlation (DIC) non-contact measurement and a cylindricity test are conducted. The measurement results are compared with the numerical simulation, and the proposed model’s correctness and the wear depth calculation strategy are verified. The results show that the wear amount distribution on the bearing’s inner surface is uneven in the axial and radial directions due to the journal’s stochastic oscillations. The maximum wear depth locates where at the bearing’s edges the motion direction of the follower shifts. These findings help to seek the revolute joints’ wear-prone parts and enhance their durability and reliability through improved design.

Study on Wear Characteristics of Revolute Clearance Joints in Mechanical Systems.

The existence of clearance causes contact-impact forces in joints, which lead to surface wear and incessant material loss of the joint surface during the motion of mechanisms. In this work, the wear characteristics of dry revolute clearance joints in planar mechanisms are studied using a computational methodology. The normal contact force model and the tangential friction force model are established to describe the contact-impact in clearance joints. Then, the dynamic wear model based on the Archard’s wear model is established to predict the wear characteristics of clearance joints in mechanisms. The dynamic wear depths of clearance joints are obtained in two steps. The first step is the dynamics analysis of mechanisms to obtain the contact and sliding characteristics between the bearing and journal in the clearance joint. The second step is the dynamic wear depth analysis of clearance joints based on dynamic Archard’s wear model. Finally, a planar slider-crank mechanism with two revolute clearance joints between the connecting rod and its adjacent links is used as the implement example. Different case studies are performed to investigate the wear characteristics of clearance joints in mechanical systems.

Optimum synthesis of four-bar mechanisms considering clearance-induced uncertainty

This paper presents a multi-objective optimization model for the motion synthesis of four-bar mechanisms considering the effects of revolute joint clearances. A geometric method is proposed to compute the maximum clearances-induced positioning and orientation errors. The proposed error modeling method is validated using a simple example, and the results reveal its advantages of high accuracy and fast computation compared with the widely used existing methods. A multi-objective optimization model is developed to design the four-bar mechanism with the best accuracy. The positioning and orientation errors are modeled separately and equally. Moreover, three constraints are included in the optimization to ensure that the synthesized mechanism is a compact crank-rocker or double-crank mechanism free from branch and order defects. A study case of synthesizing a four-bar mechanism passing through 6 motion points is investigated to illustrate the proposed method. Finally, conclusions and a brief discussion are given.

Time-dependent kinematic reliability of a dual-axis driving mechanism for satellite antenna considering non-uniform planar revolute joint clearance

The dual-axis driving mechanism is a key part of satellite antenna. It is required to operate for millions of motion cycles in space. Wear is inevitable in the joints, which makes the clearance non-uniform. However, the investigations regarding this issue are quite limited. In this study, we conduct time-dependent kinematic reliability analysis for the dual-axis driving mechanism with non-uniform joint clearance. Firstly, an efficient wear prediction method is proposed under the framework of multi-body dynamics. Then, the position error model is established considering non-uniform joint clearance, input uncertainty, and linkage dimension error. On this basis, the mean and covariance matrix are analytically determined for the joint distribution of the position error along x, y, and z axes. The envelopes of the position error functions are derived. Finally, the time-dependent kinematic reliability is estimated with the integration of a multivariable normal distribution at the calculated expansion points. The effectiveness of the proposed method is validated by comparison with the Monte Carlo simulation.

An experimental and analytical study on dynamic behaviors of high-precision mechanism including revolute clearance joints

An experimental and analytical study on dynamic behaviors of high-precision mechanism including revolute clearance joints

Error-space-oriented tolerance design for a deployable mechanism with multiple clearances

AbstractThis paper presents a geometrical alternative to estimate the accuracy of a deployable mechanism equipped on the Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) space satellite. The deployable mechanism is simplified into a planar mechanism, and the error space of the outer panel in its deployed state is modeled concerning multiple revolute joint clearances and link length tolerances. Compared with the existing methods, the advance of the proposed geometrical approach lies in that it gives expressions of the complete error mobility that the outer panel may have. After deducing the expressions, the final error space is visualized and evaluated numerically with discrete sampling points. Finally, based on the error space and the computed maximum errors, effects of tolerances on accuracy are studied and the optimal accuracy design of tolerances is obtained. The result reveals that, for the deployable mechanism discussed in this paper, effects of tolerances on the final accuracy can be eliminated without increasing the manufacturing cost.

Numerical and experimental study on dynamic characteristics of planar mechanism with mixed clearances

Clearances in joints are unavoidable due to assemblage, manufacturing errors and wear, which will lead to poor dynamic performances and undesirable vibrations due to impact forces in clearance joints. In dynamics analysis of planar mechanical system, it is usually assumed that the revolute joint is planar joint with radial clearance. However, the axial clearance in the revolute joint and the clearance in the translational joint are ignored. In fact, even planar mechanical systems may exhibit out-of-plane motion due to misalignments. In this work, a planar slider-crank mechanism is used as the example to investigate the effects of mixed clearances on the dynamic responses of planar mechanical system considering radial and axial clearances in spatial revolute joint due to axis misalignment as well as clearance in planar translational joint. The dynamic responses of the planar slider-crank mechanism system with two spatial revolute clearance joints and a planar translation clearance joint are investigated using computational and experimental methodology. The mathematic model of the spatial revolute clearance joint and the planar translational clearance joint are presented. The clearance joints are considered as force constraints and the joint components of an imperfect joint with clearance are modeled as contact bodies. The normal contact force model of clearance joint is established using continuous contact force model. The friction effect is considered using modified Coulomb friction model. Different case studies are presented and discussed to investigate the effects of the mixed clearances on the dynamic responses of the planar slider-crank mechanism.

Analysis of Dynamic Error and Wear Cycle Behavior of Kinematic Pair for Planar Flexible Multi-link Transmission System Including Revolute Clearance Joints with Irregular Rough Surfaces

Analysis of Dynamic Error and Wear Cycle Behavior of Kinematic Pair for Planar Flexible Multi-link Transmission System Including Revolute Clearance Joints with Irregular Rough Surfaces

Effect of novel continuous friction model on nonlinear dynamics of the mechanisms with clearance joint

A general methodology for the dynamic modelling and analysis of planar multi-body systems with a continuous friction model in joint clearance is presented. Joint clearance is the critical factor that influences the dynamic response and the performance of mechanisms for high-speed application. In light of recent developments in the joint clearance studies, the number of contact force models has been introduced with ignoring friction continuity. The selection of an appropriate continuous friction model is still challenging and essential, which requires further development. Therefore, a perfect continuous friction model, including the Stribeck effect, static, dynamic and viscous friction terms, is proposed and validated. Investigating the dynamic modelling and analysis of double rocker four-bar linkage mechanisms with frictional revolute clearance joints is presented to investigate friction models' effect when surfaces collide with a non-zero tangential velocity. Unlike the smooth crank input mechanism, a double rocker four-bar linkage mechanism is analysed as a challenging problem in the impact mode. Resolving this concern, the novel friction model avoids discontinuity at zero velocity considering the accurate static friction zone. The results reveal that the novel friction model, compared with the piecewise friction model, is more effective in reflecting the mechanical systems' dynamic behaviour. In order to grasp the nonlinear characteristics of the high-speed four-bar linkage mechanism with our model in joint clearance, the Poincaré portrait, and Fast Fourier transformation plot are employed. It is proved that chaos exists in the dynamic response with the influence of the restitution coefficients and kinetic coefficient of friction.

Numerical and experimental study on dynamics of the planar mechanical system considering two revolute clearance joints

AbstractDue to assembly, wear and manufacturing errors and clearance in the joints are inevitable. When the clearance is introduced into a mechanical system, the impact force in the clearance joint will cause undesirable vibration of the system. In this paper, the dynamic responses of the mechanical system with two revolute clearance joints are studied using computational and experimental methodology. The clearance joint is considered as force constraint. The normal contact force and tangential friction force between the journal and bearing in a clearance joint are modeled using a nonlinear contact force model considering energy loss and a modified Coulomb friction model considering a dynamic friction coefficient, respectively. A planar slider‐crank mechanism with two revolute clearance joints is used to implement the study. The dynamic responses obtained from numerical simulation are compared with the experimental test. Numerical simulations and experimental tests for different clearance sizes and crank speeds are presented and discussed, respectively. The simulation results agree quite well with those of the experiment for different cases, which proves the accuracy and efficiency of the computational method for dynamics analysis of the mechanical system with two revolute clearance joints in this study. The investigation indicates that the clearances in revolute joints significantly affect the dynamic characteristics of mechanical systems, which must be considered in the precision analysis, design, and control of multibody systems, especially for high‐speed machinery.

Dynamic investigation of a spatial multi-body mechanism considering joint clearance and friction based on coordinate partitioning method

The dynamic response of the model, which is the series connection of a planar four-bar mechanism and a spatial RSSR mechanism, is analyzed considering revolute joint clearance and friction. A non-holonomic constraint equation is proposed to solve the Euler angles. The dynamic equations are established by combining the Lagrange equation with the modified contact model and the LuGre friction model. A dynamic solution program based on the coordinate partitioning method is designed to solve the dynamic equations. The paper verifies the correctness and applicability of the solution program by comparing the numerical calculation results with Adams simulation. Compared with the results of eccentricity, it is found that the maximum penetration is very sensitive to the change of the slider speed rather than the clearance. The equivalent damping coefficient proposed by authors not only represents whether a collision occurs, but reflects the hysteresis caused by damping. The macroscopic manifestation of the up and down oscillation of eccentricity is the swing of the contact point. Besides, the system quickly changes from the collision into the stable state due to considering friction, and the peak value of each collision reduces greatly. Therefore, when the clearance is unavoidable, the clearance joint should be coated with a material with a large friction coefficient and not easy to wear.

Error modeling and singularity analysis of planar parallel mechanisms using optimized expression of joint clearances and link deformation

A fast error modeling method is proposed to analyze the pose deviation of 3-RPR planar parallel mechanisms with multiple revolute joint clearances. The pose error arisen from clearances and limb deformation is modeled from the point of inverse kinematics and estimated numerically. Manipulator poses are represented by elements of the Lie group SE(2) and the discontinuous deformation of limbs due to clearances are modeled by the Heaviside function, which is then approximated with the hyperbolic tangent function. After establishing the error model, an efficient error compensation method is introduced. The proposed error modeling and accuracy analysis method are validated by case study of a 3-RPR mechanism. The results show that the hyperbolic tangent function runs faster than the step function and it provides better convergence. Finally, the singularity of the 3-RPR mechanism with load is analyzed and the results reveal the effects of loads and clearances on mechanism singularities.

Design and Bending Analysis of a Metamorphic Parallel Twisted-Scissor Mechanism

Abstract The conventional scissor mechanism is used in modern engineering and robotic applications due to its metamorphic ability. The folding configuration provides space-saving and unfolding provides longer linear expansion capability. However, a conventional scissor suffers unexpected and uncontrolled large bending deformation due to low bending stiffness while unfolding configuration, which may damage its structure. It also has a sudden bending singularity during unfolding, which may also damage the actuator. These limitations impose a significant constraint on real-life applications such as foldable robot arms, space robot arms, and reconfigurable robots. In this paper, we proposed a multi-strands parallel twisted-scissor mechanism (PTSM) to enhance its usability. The PTSM is inspired by a rope structure and designed by introducing a metamorphic segment (MS) using the S-shaped linkage design approach to improve its bending stiffness without affecting conventional scissors’ fundamentals. The PTSM has a unique feature of several automatic-link locking mechanisms to avoid singularity without using additional sensors, mechanism, or control. We experimentally checked the proposed design’s functionality and its feasibility. We formulated a cantilever bending model for foldable PTSM with N metamorphic segments considering revolute joint clearance for bending estimation, experimentally verified, and analyzed the bending deformation in the X–Y and Y–Z planes. Also, it is compared with a conventional scissor. Finally, we found that PTSM is stronger than conventional scissor and can fold/unfold smoothly using a single linear actuator. PTSM can provide large linear displacement with small bending deformation without bending singularity.