Design and Analysis of Translational Joint Using Corrugated Flexure Units with Variable thickness Segments

Abstract

The paper introduces a new type of translational joint using corrugated flexure (CF) beams that are formed by serially connecting variable thickness segments. Double elliptical curves are employed to construct the variable thickness segment and Mohr’s integral method is applied to derive the compliance of it. Modeling of the CF beam and the translational joint with variable thickness segments are further carried out through stiffness matrix method, which are confirmed by finite element analysis (FEA). Discussions about the variable thickness of the double elliptical curve segments are then conducted, which enable the translational joint to achieve both high off-axis/axial stiffness ratio and large motion. Experiments were also carried out to test the motion of the optimal design. The derived analytical model provides a new opinion on the design of the CF beam.