The analysis of mechanisms presents many unique challenges, including the need to accurately model multibody interaction via joints, bearings, contact, gear systems, and other constraints. Kinematic analysis is a critical element in understanding mechanism performance and loads, as are strength and structural dynamics assessments, which generally depend on mechanism configuration. Flexible multibody systems, such as deployable antennas and solar arrays, are especially challenging systems to model because they require both the articulating ability of kinematic joints and the flexible member which may include significant nonlinearity.
Through experience in a number of industries, ATA has gained exposure to a wide variety of applications for multibody dynamics (MBD) and has found that the commonly used rigid-body assumption is extremely limiting. ATA has experience incorporating flexible components and joints using linear, modes-based, and nonlinear representations, as well as material nonlinearities and contact, into MBD simulations to more accurately simulate dynamic responses. A small sampling of ATA’s experience in diverse applications is highlighted below:
- Launch vehicle separation and jettison
- Complex deployable structures
- Spacecraft landing
- Animatronics
- Amusement park motion simulators
- Vehicle suspension systems
- Dynamic response of robotic manipulators
Some structures, such as aerospace antennas and solar arrays, undergo gross motion and drastic configuration changes during their deployment and stowing. Due to high cost and difficulty of testing these very light space-bound components on Earth, the development process typically relies heavily on analysis. ATA has unique experience simulating the deployment and stowing of deployable structures while accounting for large articulations, geometric nonlinearities, and contact. ATA has developed expertise performing these challenging simulations using traditional MBD approaches, applying commercially available nonlinear finite element code, and has even built custom analysis tools.
Deployment simulation from 2025 AIAA SciTech Forum technical paper presentation
