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13.5: Multi-Body Kinetics

  • Page ID
    111411
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    In cases where multiple connected rigid bodies are undergoing some sort of motion, we can extend our analysis of general planar motion to this multi-body situation. In these cases, which we will call multi-body kinetics problems, we will analyze each body independently as we did for general planar motion, but we will also need to pay attention to the Newton's Third Law pairs. Each body will have forces exerted on it by the surrounding bodies, and it will exert equal and opposite forces back through those same connections.

    A group of robotic arms work on assembling the skeleton of a vehicle.
    Figure \(\PageIndex{1}\): These robotic arms are a good example of a multi-body kinetics problem. As one section of the arm accelerates, it will exert forces on the other arm sections it is connected to. Image by Chris Chesher, CC-BY-NC-SA 2.0.

    To analyze a multi-body system, we will start by drawing a free body diagram of each body in motion. Be sure to identify the center of mass, as well as identifying all known and unknown forces, and known and unknown moments acting on the body. When drawing forces at connection points, be sure to make the forces equal and opposite on the connected body to satisfy Newton's Third Law. It is also sometimes helpful to label any key dimensions as well as using dashed lines to identify any known accelerations or angular accelerations. Often, you will need to solve a kinematics problem using absolute motion analysis or relative motion analysis in order to determine the accelerations of the centers of mass and the angular accelerations for each body. Make sure all these accelerations are with respect to ground.

    Next we move onto identifying the equations of motion for each body in the system. In two dimensions, we will use the same three equations we used for general planar motion. Be sure to find the the accelerations of all the centers of masses, find all moments about the center of mass, and take the mass moments of inertia about the center of mass of each body.

    \[ \sum F_x = m * a_x \]

    \[ \sum F_y = m * a_y \]

    \[ \sum M_G = I_G * \alpha \]

    or (taking moments about the ICZV)

    \[\sum \vec{M}_{I C}=I_{I C} \vec{\alpha}\]

    or (taking moments about any point, P , on the body)

    \[\sum \vec{M}_P=I_G \vec{\alpha}+\vec{r}_{G / P} \times m \vec{a}_G\]

    or

    \[\sum \vec{M}_P=I_P \vec{\alpha}+\vec{r}_{G / P} \times m \vec{a}_P\]

    Plugging the known forces, moments, and accelerations into the above equations we can solve for up to three unknowns per body. If more than three unknowns exist in any one set of equations, you will need to start with an adjacent body. Once unknown forces are determined on one body, they can become knowns on the connected body, reducing the number of unknowns to solve for.

    Video lecture covering this section, delivered by Dr. Jacob Moore. YouTube source: https://youtu.be/-tAP08srNrU.

    Question 1:

    A robotic arm has two sections (OA and AB) with section OA having a mass of 10 kg and section AB having a mass of 7 kg. Treat each section as a slender rod. If we wish to accelerate member AB from a standstill at a rate of 3 rad/s2 and keep the right section stationary, what moments must we exert at joints O and A?

    Problem 1 Diagram

    Solution:

    Question 2:

    An engineering student is testing a component of her vehicle for a design competition. The 5kg rectangular plate is pinned to a carriage at P. If the track is given an acceleration of 2m/s^2, determine the reaction forces at P and the angular acceleration of the plate. The height of the plate is h=2y and G is located a vertical distance y=0.8m from P. The plate has a length l=2m and point P is a horizontal distance x=0.6m from the edge.

    Problem 3 Diagram

    Solution:


    This page titled 13.5: Multi-Body Kinetics is shared under a CC BY-SA 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Jacob Moore & Contributors (Mechanics Map) via source content that was edited to the style and standards of the LibreTexts platform.