Analytical mechanics methods in finite element analysis of multibody elastic system

The study of multibody systems with elastic elements involves at the moment the reevaluation of the classical methods of analysis offered by analytical mechanics. Modeling this system with the finite element method requires obtaining the motion equation for an element in the circumstances imposed by a multibody system. The paper aims to present the main analysis methods used by researchers, to make a comparative analysis, and to show the advantages or disadvantages offered by different methods. For the presentation of the main methods (namely Lagrange's equations, Gibbs-Appell's equations, Maggi's formalism, Kane's equations, and Hamilton's equations) a unified notation is used. The paper provides a critical evaluation of the studied applications that involved some of these methods, highlighting the reason why it was decided to use them. Also, the paper identifies potential research areas to explore.