Dynamics of Articulated Structures. Part II. Computer Implementation and Applications

ABSTRACT A computer program based on Part I of this paper has been developed for dynamic analysis of articulated structures that contain elastic bodies. The organization of an intermediate-processor that generates data for the dynamic analysis code, using modal mass and stiffness data from a finite element program, is presented. The spatial DADS (Dynamic Analysis and Design System) dynamic analysis code is used to assemble and solve the equations of motion of the system. Examples are presented and the effects of deformation mode selection on the accuracy and computational cost of the analysis are evaluated.