Contact-impact model and its discrete schemes for revolute pairs with small clearances

A multiple point contact-impact model and discrete schemes for revolute pairs with small clearances widely used in space engineering were presented to numerically simulate the dynamics of deployment and locking of space deployment structures. Wavy surface contours,dimensional tolerances, flexual deformation and stick-slip effects were included in the model. The results of a static contact analysis of a revolute joint compared well with experimental results. The model was then used to analyze the axial dynamic contact and impact of a flexible rod with a fixed end and revolute joints with various clearances. Computational results indicate the proposed model can describe both of the nonlinear relationship and hysteresis between contact forces and approaches. The model is convenient to use in simulation during structure design for its parameters can be easily obtained.