Energy integrals for mechanical systems with nonlinear nonholonomic constraints

The work analyzes energy relations for nonholonomic systems, whose motion is restricted by nonlinear nonholonomic constraints. For the mechanical systems with linear constraints, the analysis of energy relations was carried out in [1-6].... On the basis of corresponding Lagrange's equations, a general law of the change in energy d epsilon/dt is formulated for mentioned systems by the help of which it is shown that there are two types of the laws of conservation of energy, depending on the structure of elementary work of the forces of constraint reactions. Also, the condition for existing the second type of the law of conservation of energy is formulated in the form of the system of partial differential equations. The obtained results are illustrated by a model of nonholonomic mechanical system. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.