A constrained generalised-α method for coupling rigid parallel chain kinematics and elastic bodies

Abstract

A problem arises from combining flexible rotorcraft blades with stiffer mechanical links, which form a parallel kinematic chain. This paper introduces a method for solving index-3 differential algebraic equations for coupled stiff and elastic body systems with closed-loop kinematics. Rigid body dynamics and elastic body mechanics are independently described according to convenient mathematical measures. Holonomic constraint equations couple both the parallel chain kinematics and describe the coupling between the rigid and continuum bodies. Lagrange multipliers enforce the kinetic conditions for both sets of constraints. Additionally, to prevent numerical inaccuracy from inverting stiff mechanical matrices, a scaling factor normalises the dynamic tangential stiffness matrix. Finally, example tests show the verification of the algorithm with respect to existing computational tests and the accuracy of the model for cases relevant to the problem definition.