TITLE:
Experimental Study of the Motion Modes of a Planar Mechanical System with Multi-Clearance Revolute Joints
AUTHORS:
Kifatsoa Kolani, Mutuku Muvengei, Joshua Ngoret, James Kimotho
KEYWORDS:
Slider Crank Mechanism, Dynamic Responses, Revolute Clearance Joints, Motion Modes
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Applied Sciences,
Vol.13 No.11,
November
24,
2023
ABSTRACT: Clearances in joints of a
mechanical multibody system can induce impulsive forces, leading to vibrations
that compromise the system’s reliability, stability, and lifespan. Through
dynamic analysis, designers can investigate the effects of the clearances on
the dynamics of the multibody system. A revolute joint with clearance exhibits
three motions which are; free-flight, impact and continuous contact motion modes. Therefore, a multibody system with
n-number of revolute clearance joints will exhibit 3n motion modes which
are a combination of the three motions in each joint. This study investigates
experimentally the nine motion modes in a mechanical system with two revolute
clearance joints. A slider crank mechanism has been used as the demonstrative
example. We observed that the experimental curve exhibits a greater impact
compared to the simulation curve. In conclusion, this experimental
investigation offers valuable insights into the dynamics of planar mechanical
systems with multiple clearance revolute joints. Utilizing a slider-crank
mechanism for data acquisition, the study successfully confirmed seven out of
nine motion modes previously identified in numerical research. The missing
modes are attributed to inherent complexities in real-world systems, such as
journal-bearing misalignment.