Temporal identification in simulated flexible multibody system

This article presents a temporal identification procedure that is able to identify forces in joints of a flexible dynamic multibody system. In this procedure, bodies are completely known (geometry, density and stiffness), and translation kinematics data are given at joints for an observation time period, while kinematics rotations are unknown. In order to proceed, a finite element model with unknown linear joint stiffness and forces is established to give a parametric dynamic equilibrium at chosen times of interest. The vicinity of these times is used to provide necessary information through a local specific model of unknown kinematics variables to access their values. This two levels strategy result in a good and simple procedure able to identify kinematics and physic parameters of an open chain dynamic system. Results are demonstrated on a dynamic system composed by two flexible beams linked through torsional and translational linear spring elements.