Journal
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF SOLIDS AND STRUCTURES
Volume 37, Issue 46-47, Pages 7003-7027Publisher
PERGAMON-ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD
DOI: 10.1016/S0020-7683(99)00327-3
Keywords
kinematic bifurcation; deployable structures; multibody system
Categories
Ask authors/readers for more resources
This article deals with the kinematic simulation of movable structures that go through special configurations of kinematic bifurcation, as they move. A series of algorithms are developed for structures that can be modelled using pin-jointed bars and that admit a single-parameter motion. These algorithms are able to detect and locate any bifurcation points that exist along the path of the structure and, at each bifurcation point, can determine all possible motions of the structure. The theory behind the algorithms is explained, and the analysis of a simple example is discussed in detail. Then, a simplified version of the particular problem that had motivated this work, the simulation of the folding and deployment of a thin membrane structure forming a solar sail, is analysed. For the particular cases that are considered, it is found that the entire process is inextensional, but a detailed study of the simulation results shows that in more general cases, it is likely that stretching or wrinklimg will occur. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
Authors
I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.
Reviews
Recommended
No Data Available