Bifurcation in planar slider-crank mechanism with revolute clearance joint

Generally, dynamic systems with clearance exhibit a chaotic and quasi-periodic behavior, and the main concern of the design engineers is to achieve the range of stability for such systems. In this research, nonlinear dynamic behavior of a slider-crank mechanism with clearance has been studied. Differential equations of motion are derived considering clearance in the revolute joint between the slider and connecting rod. The normal contact force developed in the journal-bearing system is calculated using the continuous contact force model proposed by Lankarani and Nikravesh. Furthermore, the incorporation of the friction effect on the clearance joint is performed using the Ambrosio model. Using the Poincare portrait corresponding to non-autonomous systems, dynamic behavior of the mechanism is shown in discrete space, which is the criterion for the detection of chaos. Bifurcation analysis has been studied with varying clearance sizes, corresponding to two different values of crank angular velocity; then some intervals in which the periodic orbit embedded in the system response becomes stable are computed. Sensitive dependence of such multi-body mechanical systems on clearance size is also explained based on the bifurcation diagrams. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.