Dynamics of Flexible Multibody Systems Using Bond Graphs and Lagrange Multipliers

A procedure is presented to study the dynamics of interconnected flexible systems using bond graphs. The concept of Lagrange multipliers, which are commonly used in analysis of constrained systems, is introduced in the procedure. The overall motions of each of the component bodies are described in terms of large rigid body motions and small elastic vibrations. Bond graphs are used to represent both rigid body and flexible dynamics of each body in a unified manner. Bond graphs of such sub-systems are coupled to one another satisfying the kinematic constraints at the interfaces to get the overall system model. Constraint reactions are introduced in the form of Lagrange multipliers at the interfaces without disturbing the integral causality in the subsystem models, which leads to easy derivation of system equations. The equations of motion and higher derivatives of the constraint relations are integrated to obtain the constraint reactions and the system response. The procedure is illustrated by an example system and results are in good agreement with those presented earlier.