A constrained assumed modes method for dynamics of a flexible planar serial robot with prismatic joints

In the present study, for the first time, flexible multibody dynamics for a three-link serial robot with two flexible links having active prismatic joints is presented using an approximate analytical method. Transverse vibrations of flexible links/beams with prismatic joints have complicated differential equations. This complexity is mostly due to axial motion of the links. In this study, first, vibration analysis of a flexible link sliding through an active prismatic joint having translational motion is considered. A rigid-body coordinate system is used, which aids in obtaining a new and rather simple form of the kinematic differential equation without the loss of generality. Next, the analysis is extended to include dynamic forces for a three-link planar serial robot called PPP (Prismatic, Prismatic, Prismatic), in which all joints are prismatic and active. The robot has a rigid first link but flexible second and third links. To model the prismatic joint, time-variant constraints are written, and a motion equation in a form of virtual displacement and virtual work of forces/moments is obtained. Finally, an approximate analytical method called the “constrained assumed modes method” is presented for solving the motion equations. For a numerical case study, approximate analytical results are compared with finite element results, which show that the two solutions closely follow each other.