Multibody Dynamics of the 2 Sections Flexible Ladder Model Extending and Retracting Each Other

Abstract

A ladder of the ladder truck with lift mechanism often generates a lot of vibrations at the time of the lift operation. The lift operation includes the extending and retracting motions, the ascending and descending motions, and the turning motion. In this paper, the simulation analysis of the dynamic behavior for the 2 sections flexible ladder which can extend and retract each other is described. We make the dynamic analytical model of the 2 sections flexible ladder using multibody dynamics though we have already reported the simulation analysis of the 2 sections ladder composed of a rigid and a flexible ones. A coupled equation of motion of the 2 sections flexible ladder is derived using the differential algebraic equation (DAE). Performing the numerical simulation studies taking the dimensions of the 2 sections flexible ladder model parameters, the physical meaning of the dynamic behavior at the time of extending and retracting motions between 2 ladder sections is discussed comparing with the former reported results for the 2 sections ladder composed of a rigid and a flexible ones. Moreover, the validity of our proposed simulation method is investigated comparing with the experimental results partially.