On Cartesian stiffness matrices in rigid body dynamics: An energetic perspective

Abstract

Several Cartesian stiffness matrices for a single rigid body subject to a conservative force field are developed in this paper. The treatment is based on energetic arguments and an Euler angle parameterization of the rotation of the rigid body is employed. Several new representations for the stiffness matrix are obtained and the relation to other works on Cartesian stiffness matrices and Hessians is illuminated. Additional details are presented with respect to determining the Cartesian stiffness matrix for a pair of rigid bodies, as well as for a system of rigid bodies constrained to a plane. © 2010 The Author(s).