Dynamics and balancing of multibody systems (Q938608)

This is a monograph describing applications of multibody dynamic analysis methods with specific physical systems. The focus is upon the development of dynamic formulations convenient for machine design. Applications with machinery balancing and the minimization of inertia forces are presented. The developed formulations result in two-level dynamic algorithms for both planar and spatial closed-loop systems. The book itself is divided into six chapters, with two appendices, spanning approximately 175 pages. Following a relatively brief introductory chapter reviewing multibody system dynamics formulations, the authors consider the dynamics of open- and closed-loop systems, in the next two chapters. For the open-loop systems, the authors develop the use of orthogonal complement arrays for both serial and tree-like systems. For closed-loop systems the authors discuss ``joint cutting'' so as to convert closed-loop systems to open-loop systems. In the fourth chapter the authors discuss equimomental, or dynamically equivalent, systems. They illustrate the concept with two, three, and seven point-mass models of planar and spatial motion systems. The book concludes with two rather detailed chapters devoted to balancing of planar and spatial mechanisms respectively. The appendices provide information about coordinate frames and topological concepts. There are several attractive features of the book including: a critical review of various modeling methods; the development of concise equations of motion using orthogonal complement arrays; recursive formulations; and several nontrivial examples -- particularly related to machinery balancing. The book is well-written with high-quality graphics and printing. It has 134 references for readers who want more detail about the concepts. Nevertheless, the authors appear to assume a familiarity on the part of the readers with the fundamentals of multibody dynamics. The book will thus probably be of greatest interest and use to engineers and researchers who are wanting to transfer multibody dynamics theories into design application.