A new pseudo-rigid-body model approach for modeling the quasi-static response of planar flexure-hinge mechanisms

In this paper a new pseudo-rigid-body model (PRBM) of flexure hinges used in planar flexure-hinge mechanisms with small deformations is presented. Unlike the 1-DOF freedom PRBM used in the existing literature, the PRBM proposed has 3-DOF (degrees of freedom). Using the 3-DOF PRBM of flexure hinges, planar flexure-hinge mechanisms can be represented as rigid multibody systems whose adjacent rigid bodies are connected by 3-DOF joints. After applying this modeling procedure, the principle of virtual work yields a matrix relation for the determination of the quasi-static responses of a flexure mechanism due to external loads. The validity and accuracy of the approach for quasi-static analysis of planar flexure-hinge mechanisms based on the 3-DOF PRBM are examined using the examples of two types of compliant mechanisms: RRR and 3-RRR compliant micro-motion stages. (c) 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.