Free vibration of compliant mechanisms consisting of Euler-Bernoulli beams

Abstract

This paper presents methodology for computation of vibration frequency of compliant mechanism consisting of thin elastic beam segments. Beams are of different cross-sections and each of them is modeled using Euler-Bernoulli beam theory. Joints are modeled with smaller thin beams while segments are represented using larger thin beams. Transfer matrix method is ap-plied for analytical calculation of vibration frequencies. An example of mechanism with two segments and one joint is given. Analytical results are compared with experimental and numerical results obtained using commercial finite element software.