Chain Drive Simulation Using Spatial Multibody Dynamics

Abstract

This paper presents an efficient approach for modeling chain derives using multibody dynamics formulation based on the spatial algebra. The recursive nonlinear dynamic equations of motion are formulated using spatial Cartesian coordinates and joint variables to form an augmented set of differential-algebraic equations. The spatial algebra is used to express the kinematic and dynamic equations leading to consistent and compact set of equations. The connectivity graph is used to derive the system connectivity matrix based on the system topological relations. The connectivity matrix is used to eliminate the Cartesian quantities and to project the forces and inertia into the joint subspace. This approach will result in a minimum set of equation and can avoid iteratively solving the system of differential and algebraic equations to satisfy the constraint equations. In order to accurately capture the full dynamics of the chain links, each link in the chain is modeled as rigid body with full 6 degrees of freedom. To avoid singularities in closed loop configurations, the chain drive is considered a kinematically decoupled subsystem and the interaction between the links and other system components is modeled using force elements. The out-of-plane misalignment between the sprockets can be easily modeled using a compliant force element to model the joints between each two adjacent links. The nonlinear three dimensional contact forces between the chain links and the sprockets are modeled using elastic spring-damper element and accounts for the sliding friction. The proposed approach can be used to model complex drive chain, bicycle chain as well as conveyance systems. Results show that realistic behavior of the chain as well as out-of-plane vibration can be easily captured using the presented approach. The proposed approach for chain drive subsystem could be easily appended to any other multibody simulation system.