Analysis of Large Flexible Body Deformation in Multibody Systems Using Absolute Coordinates

To consider large deformation problems in multibody system simulations afinite element approach, called absolute nodal coordinate.formulation,has been proposed. In this formulation absolute nodal coordinates andtheir material derivatives are applied to represent both deformation andrigid body motion. The choice of nodal variables allows a fullynonlinear representation of rigid body motion and can provide the exactrigid body inertia in the case of large rotations. The methodology isespecially suited for but not limited to modeling of beams, cables andshells in multibody dynamics.