FILAMENT-WOUND COMPOSITE LINKS IN MULTIBODY SYSTEMS

Dynamics of multi-link systems consisting of filament-wound composite beams and rigid bodies undergoing large rotations and translations is formulated. A two-node hybrid-stress shear-flexible finite element is used in modeling the links. The mass properties of the finite element which are required for multibody dynamic analysis are developed. A rec ursive formulation based on Kane's equations is used in the analysis o f the multi-link system. Closed loops and prescribed motions are allow ed in the system and the corresponding constraint equations are impose d. The constraint violations due to numerical errors are stabilized by using Baumgarte's method. A slider-crank mechanism is simulated to il lustrate the differences between the responses of isotropic and compos ite mechanisms of the same weight.