Kinematics - Analysis of Mechanisms: Methods and Techniques for mechanism analysis
Analysis of Mechanisms
Analysis of mechanisms is the study of motion of different members constituting a mechanism and the mechanism as a whole entity while it is being operated or run. This study of motion involves linear as well as angular position, velocity and acceleration of different points on members of mechanisms. Analysis and synthesis are two different aspects of mechanisms and machine design.
Earlier design engineers used drafting equipments to graphically analyse the mechanisms. The continuous contribution by design engineers for years has lead to development of many methods and techniques for analysis of mechanisms. Recently, the development of computer techniques have offered a number of viable and attractive solutions.
Methods and Techniques of Mechanism Analysis
Mechanism analysis methods are basically of two types, graphical and analytical. Each method has many techniques for analysis of mechanisms, where each technique is suitable for a particular category of mechanisms. With the development of sophisticated computer programs design engineers prefer to concentrate their effort on analytical approach. But still the graphical approach to mechanism analysis has not lost its utility, specially in some cases where graphical technique gives the most efficient solution and physical insight to visualize working of the mechanism.
Graphical Method of Mechanism Analysis
Graphical method starts with position analysis by simply drawing the linkage mechanism to scale. Then the velocity analysis is performed which requires the angular position of the links to be determined beforehand. Similarly it is necessary to know angular velocities of links for acceleration analysis. Thus, the sequence for kinematic analysis of mechanisms is - position analysis, then velocity analysis and then acceleration analysis.
Different Techniques of Graphical Analysis
- Velocity and Acceleration Polygon: Velocity and acceleration are vectors and thus their sum or difference will follow vector polygon laws. If velocity of one point on a link is known then the velocity of other points can be found using the vector polygons. This technique is based on vector polygon laws.
- Velocity and Acceleration Image: This technique is used for graphical analysis of mechanisms with more than one loop. If the velocity and acceleration of two points on a link are known then the velocity and acceleration of third point on that link can be determined using velocity and acceleration image.
- Inversion Technique: When it is not possible to analyse the linkage directly using vector polygon approach then Inversion Technique is used. In this technique the driven and driver cranks are interchanged to perform graphical analysis.
- Relative Velocity and Acceleration: This technique is used to analyse mechanisms with large number of members. In this technique the relationships between relative linear/angular velocities and acceleration of points/members are used to analyse the mechanisms.
- Instant Center of Velocity: For a rigid body moving in a plane, at every instant there exists a point that is instantaneously at rest. This instant center of velocity for the given rigid body is found using standard methods. It is useful for finding input-output velocity relationships of complex mechanisms.
Analytical Method of Mechanism Analysis
Analytical method is used when repetitive and extensive analysis of mechanisms is required, as the analytical equations and solutions obtained can be conveniently programmed on a computer. In this approach vector position, velocity and acceleration equations are formulated based on the fact that there are two different paths connecting the points on a vector loop. The equations thus obtained are simplified and programmed using computers. Desirable solutions are obtained by varying the parameters.
This post is part of the series: Kinematics - Design of Mechanisms
Machines as simple as livers, machines such as James Watt’s steam engine and the industrial robots such as PUMA all are composed of mechanisms whether simple, complex or combination of many simple and complex mechanisms. These mechanisms are governed by Kinematics – the study of geometry and motion.
- Kinematics - Design of Mechanisms: Introduction
- Analysis and Synthesis in Machine Design
- Types of Kinematic Joints
- Degrees of Freedom
- Kinematics – Design of Mechanisms: Kinematic Inversion
- Kinematics – Actuation of Machines: Part I – Electrical Actuation
- Kinematics – Actuation of Machines: Part II – Hydraulic Actuation
- Kinematics – Actuation of Machines: Part III – Pneumatic Actuation
- Kinematics - Analysis of Mechanisms: Methods and Techniques
- Kinematics - Synthesis of Mechanisms: Methods and Techniques
- Four Bar Linkages in Machine Design
- Straight Line Mechanisms
- Kinematics - Special Mechanisms: Straight Line Mechanisms - II
- Exact Straight Line Mechanisms