Computer implementation of the absolute nodal coordinate formulation for flexible multibody dynamics (Q1265312)

This paper describes procedures for the computer implementation of the absolute nodal coordinate formulation for flexible multibody applications. In the absolute nodal coordinate formulation, no infinitesimal or finite rotations are used as nodal coordinates. The configuration of the finite element is defined using global displacement coordinates and slopes. By using this mixed set of coordinates, beam and plate elements can be treated as isoparametric elements. As a consequence, the dynamic formulation of these widely used elements using the absolute nodal coordinate formulation leads to a constant mass matrix. The objective of this study is to develop computational procedures that exploit this feature.