modelUniversal

Universal joint (2 degrees-of-freedom, 4 potential states)

Extends from Modelica.Mechanics.MultiBody.Interfaces.PartialTwoFrames (Base model for components providing two frame connectors + outer world + assert to guarantee that the component is connected).

Information

Joint where frame_a rotates around axis n_a which is fixed in frame_a and frame_b rotates around axis n_b which is fixed in frame_b. The two frames coincide when "revolute_a.phi=0" and "revolute_b.phi=0". This joint has the following potential states;

  • The relative angle phi_a = revolute_a.phi [rad] around axis n_a,
  • the relative angle phi_b = revolute_b.phi [rad] around axis n_b,
  • the relative angular velocity w_a (= der(phi_a)) and
  • the relative angular velocity w_b (= der(phi_b)).

They are used as candidates for automatic selection of states from the tool. This may be enforced by setting "stateSelect=StateSelect.always" in the Advanced menu. The states are usually selected automatically. In certain situations, especially when closed kinematic loops are present, it might be slightly more efficient, when using the "StateSelect.always" setting.

In the following figure the animation of a universal joint is shown. The light blue coordinate system is frame_a and the dark blue coordinate system is frame_b of the joint (here: n_a = {0,0,1}, n_b = {0,1,0}, phi_a.start = 90o, phi_b.start = 45o).

Parameters

TypeNameDefaultDescription
Booleananimationtrue= true, if animation shall be enabled
Modelica.Mechanics.MultiBody.Types.Axisn_a{1, 0, 0}Axis of revolute joint 1 resolved in frame_a
Modelica.Mechanics.MultiBody.Types.Axisn_b{0, 1, 0}Axis of revolute joint 2 resolved in frame_b
Animation › if animation = true
SI.DistancecylinderLengthworld.defaultJointLengthLength of cylinders representing the joint axes
SI.DistancecylinderDiameterworld.defaultJointWidthDiameter of cylinders representing the joint axes
Advanced
StateSelectstateSelectStateSelect.preferPriority to use joint coordinates (phi_a, phi_b, w_a, w_b) as states

Connectors

TypeNameDefaultDescription
Interfaces.Frame_aframe_a (from PartialTwoFrames)Coordinate system a fixed to the component with one cut-force and cut-torque
Interfaces.Frame_bframe_b (from PartialTwoFrames)Coordinate system b fixed to the component with one cut-force and cut-torque

Components

TypeNameDefaultDescription
Types.ColorcylinderColorModelica.Mechanics.MultiBody.Types.Defaults.JointColorColor of cylinders representing the joint axes
Types.SpecularCoefficientspecularCoefficientworld.defaultSpecularCoefficientReflection of ambient light (= 0: light is completely absorbed)
Modelica.Mechanics.MultiBody.Joints.Revoluterevolute_a
Modelica.Mechanics.MultiBody.Joints.Revoluterevolute_b
SI.Anglephi_aRelative rotation angle from frame_a to intermediate frame
SI.Anglephi_bRelative rotation angle from intermediate frame to frame_b
SI.AngularVelocityw_aFirst derivative of angle phi_a (relative angular velocity a)
SI.AngularVelocityw_bFirst derivative of angle phi_b (relative angular velocity b)
SI.AngularAccelerationa_aSecond derivative of angle phi_a (relative angular acceleration a)
SI.AngularAccelerationa_bSecond derivative of angle phi_b (relative angular acceleration b)