{"id":{"repo_id":"vt","oai_identifier":"oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/112732"},"canonical_url":"https://search.dev.ndltd.org/etd/vt/oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/112732","repository":{"repo_id":"vt","name":"Virginia Tech","base_url":"https://vtechworks.lib.vt.edu/oai/request"},"display":{"title":"Direct Sensitivity Analysis of Spatial Multibody Systems with Joint Friction","abstract":"Sensitivity analysis is one of the most prominent gradient based optimization techniques for mechanical systems. Model sensitivities are the derivatives of the generalized coordinates defining the motion of the system in time with respect to the system design parameters. These sensitivities can be calculated using finite differences, but the accuracy and computational inefficiency of this method limits its use. Hence, the methodologies of direct and adjoint sensitivity analysis have gained prominence. Recent research has presented computationally efficient methodologies for both direct and adjoint sensitivity analysis of complex multibody dynamic systems. Multibody formulations with joint friction were developed in the recent years and these systems have to be modeled by highly non-linear differential algebraic equations (DAEs) that are difficult to solve using numerical methods. The sensitivity analysis of such systems and the subsequent design optimization is a novel area of research that has been explored in this work. The contribution of this work is in the development of the analytical methods for computation of sensitivities for the most commonly used multibody formulations incorporated with joint friction. Two different friction models have been studied, capable of emulating behaviors of stiction (static friction), sliding friction and viscous drag. A case study has been conducted on a spatial slider-crank mechanism to illustrate the application of this methodology to real-world systems. The Brown and McPhee friction model has been implemented using an index-1 formulation for computation of the dynamics and sensitivities in this case study. The effect of friction on the dynamics and model sensitivities has been analyzed by comparing the sensitivities of slider velocity with respect to the design parameters of crank length, rod length, and the parameters defining the friction model. Due to the highly non-linear nature of friction, it can be concluded that the model dynamics are more sensitive during the transition phases, where the friction coefficient changes from static to dynamic and vice versa.","abstract_html":"Sensitivity analysis is one of the most prominent gradient based optimization techniques for mechanical systems. Model sensitivities are the derivatives of the generalized coordinates defining the motion of the system in time with respect to the system design parameters. These sensitivities can be calculated using finite differences, but the accuracy and computational inefficiency of this method limits its use. Hence, the methodologies of direct and adjoint sensitivity analysis have gained prominence. Recent research has presented computationally efficient methodologies for both direct and adjoint sensitivity analysis of complex multibody dynamic systems. Multibody formulations with joint friction were developed in the recent years and these systems have to be modeled by highly non-linear differential algebraic equations (DAEs) that are difficult to solve using numerical methods. The sensitivity analysis of such systems and the subsequent design optimization is a novel area of research that has been explored in this work. The contribution of this work is in the development of the analytical methods for computation of sensitivities for the most commonly used multibody formulations incorporated with joint friction. Two different friction models have been studied, capable of emulating behaviors of stiction (static friction), sliding friction and viscous drag. A case study has been conducted on a spatial slider-crank mechanism to illustrate the application of this methodology to real-world systems. The Brown and McPhee friction model has been implemented using an index-1 formulation for computation of the dynamics and sensitivities in this case study. The effect of friction on the dynamics and model sensitivities has been analyzed by comparing the sensitivities of slider velocity with respect to the design parameters of crank length, rod length, and the parameters defining the friction model. Due to the highly non-linear nature of friction, it can be concluded that the model dynamics are more sensitive during the transition phases, where the friction coefficient changes from static to dynamic and vice versa.","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Verulkar, Adwait Dhananjay"],"institution":"Virginia Tech","degree_name":"Master of Science","degree_level":"masters","degree_discipline":"Mechanical Engineering","degree_department":"Mechanical Engineering","school":null,"contributors":[],"advisors":[],"committee_chairs":["Sandu, Corina"],"committee_members":["L'Afflitto, Andrea","Southward, Steve C."],"year":2021,"date_issued":"2021-06-07","date_published":"2021-06-07","updated_at":"2026-07-22T22:19:15Z","subjects":["Design optimization","Optimal control","Friction modeling"],"languages":[],"rights":["In Copyright"],"rights_urls":["http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/"],"identifier_entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier.other","label":"Dc Identifier Other","values":["vt_gsexam:31409"],"render_values":[{"text":"vt_gsexam:31409","href":null,"code":true}]}]},"links":{"outbound_url":"http://hdl.handle.net/10919/112732","outbound_label":"Handle","outbound_source":"dc:identifier.uri"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:contributor.committeechair","label":"Committee Chair","values":["Sandu, Corina"]},{"key":"dc:contributor.committeemember","label":"Committee Member","values":["L'Afflitto, Andrea","Southward, Steve C."]},{"key":"dc:contributor.department","label":"Department","values":["Mechanical Engineering"]},{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Verulkar, Adwait Dhananjay"]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"dc:date.accessioned","label":"Dc Date Accessioned","values":["2022-11-30T07:00:07Z"]},{"key":"dc:date.available","label":"Dc Date Available","values":["2022-11-30T07:00:07Z"]},{"key":"dc:date.issued","label":"Date","values":["2021-06-07"]},{"key":"dc:publisher","label":"Institution","values":["Virginia Tech"]},{"key":"dc:type","label":"Dc Type","values":["Thesis"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_discipline","label":"Discipline","values":["Mechanical Engineering"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_level","label":"Degree Level","values":["masters"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_name","label":"Degree Name","values":["Master of Science"]},{"key":"thesis:institution_name","label":"Thesis Institution Name","values":["Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University"]}]},{"id":"subjects_keywords","label":"Subjects and Keywords","entries":[{"key":"dc:subject","label":"Dc Subject","values":["Design optimization","Optimal control","Friction modeling"]}]},{"id":"language_rights","label":"Language and Rights","entries":[{"key":"dc:rights","label":"Dc Rights","values":["In Copyright"]},{"key":"dc:rights.uri","label":"Rights URI","values":["http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/"]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier.other","label":"Dc Identifier Other","values":["vt_gsexam:31409"]},{"key":"dc:identifier.uri","label":"Identifier URI","values":["http://hdl.handle.net/10919/112732"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["Sensitivity analysis is one of the most prominent gradient based optimization techniques for mechanical systems. Model sensitivities are the derivatives of the generalized coordinates defining the motion of the system in time with respect to the system design parameters. These sensitivities can be calculated using finite differences, but the accuracy and computational inefficiency of this method limits its use. Hence, the methodologies of direct and adjoint sensitivity analysis have gained prominence. Recent research has presented computationally efficient methodologies for both direct and adjoint sensitivity analysis of complex multibody dynamic systems. Multibody formulations with joint friction were developed in the recent years and these systems have to be modeled by highly non-linear differential algebraic equations (DAEs) that are difficult to solve using numerical methods. The sensitivity analysis of such systems and the subsequent design optimization is a novel area of research that has been explored in this work. The contribution of this work is in the development of the analytical methods for computation of sensitivities for the most commonly used multibody formulations incorporated with joint friction. Two different friction models have been studied, capable of emulating behaviors of stiction (static friction), sliding friction and viscous drag. A case study has been conducted on a spatial slider-crank mechanism to illustrate the application of this methodology to real-world systems. The Brown and McPhee friction model has been implemented using an index-1 formulation for computation of the dynamics and sensitivities in this case study. The effect of friction on the dynamics and model sensitivities has been analyzed by comparing the sensitivities of slider velocity with respect to the design parameters of crank length, rod length, and the parameters defining the friction model. Due to the highly non-linear nature of friction, it can be concluded that the model dynamics are more sensitive during the transition phases, where the friction coefficient changes from static to dynamic and vice versa."]},{"key":"dc:description.abstractgeneral","label":"General Abstract","values":["Mechanisms have been in existence since the earliest days of technology and are more relevant than ever in this age of robotics, artificial intelligence and space exploration. Innovations like myoelectric and neural prosthetics, legged robotics, robotic surgeries, advanced manufacturing, extra-terrestrial vehicles and so on are the modern day manifestations of the traditional mechanisms that formed the backbone of the industrial revolution. All of these innovations implement precision controlled multibody dynamic systems as part of their function. This thesis explores the modelling of such dynamic systems using different mathematical formulations. The contribution of this work is the incorporation of friction in the formulation of such systems. The performance of any dynamical system depends on certain parameters, which can be optimized to meet a certain objective criteria. This is achieved by performing a sensitivity analysis with respect to those parameters on the mathematical formulation of the mechanism. The derivation of this approach has been explored in this thesis. For the benefit of the reader, the application of this method has been discussed using a case study of a simple 3-dimensional slider crank mechanism."]},{"key":"dc:description.degree","label":"Dc Description Degree","values":["Master of Science"]},{"key":"dc:format.medium","label":"Dc Format Medium","values":["ETD"]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["Direct Sensitivity Analysis of Spatial Multibody Systems with Joint Friction"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:contributor.committeechair":["Sandu, Corina"],"dc:contributor.committeemember":["L'Afflitto, Andrea","Southward, Steve C."],"dc:contributor.department":["Mechanical Engineering"],"dc:creator":["Verulkar, Adwait Dhananjay"],"dc:date.accessioned":["2022-11-30T07:00:07Z"],"dc:date.available":["2022-11-30T07:00:07Z"],"dc:date.issued":["2021-06-07"],"dc:description.abstract":["Sensitivity analysis is one of the most prominent gradient based optimization techniques for mechanical systems. Model sensitivities are the derivatives of the generalized coordinates defining the motion of the system in time with respect to the system design parameters. These sensitivities can be calculated using finite differences, but the accuracy and computational inefficiency of this method limits its use. Hence, the methodologies of direct and adjoint sensitivity analysis have gained prominence. Recent research has presented computationally efficient methodologies for both direct and adjoint sensitivity analysis of complex multibody dynamic systems. Multibody formulations with joint friction were developed in the recent years and these systems have to be modeled by highly non-linear differential algebraic equations (DAEs) that are difficult to solve using numerical methods. The sensitivity analysis of such systems and the subsequent design optimization is a novel area of research that has been explored in this work. The contribution of this work is in the development of the analytical methods for computation of sensitivities for the most commonly used multibody formulations incorporated with joint friction. Two different friction models have been studied, capable of emulating behaviors of stiction (static friction), sliding friction and viscous drag. A case study has been conducted on a spatial slider-crank mechanism to illustrate the application of this methodology to real-world systems. The Brown and McPhee friction model has been implemented using an index-1 formulation for computation of the dynamics and sensitivities in this case study. The effect of friction on the dynamics and model sensitivities has been analyzed by comparing the sensitivities of slider velocity with respect to the design parameters of crank length, rod length, and the parameters defining the friction model. Due to the highly non-linear nature of friction, it can be concluded that the model dynamics are more sensitive during the transition phases, where the friction coefficient changes from static to dynamic and vice versa."],"dc:description.abstractgeneral":["Mechanisms have been in existence since the earliest days of technology and are more relevant than ever in this age of robotics, artificial intelligence and space exploration. Innovations like myoelectric and neural prosthetics, legged robotics, robotic surgeries, advanced manufacturing, extra-terrestrial vehicles and so on are the modern day manifestations of the traditional mechanisms that formed the backbone of the industrial revolution. All of these innovations implement precision controlled multibody dynamic systems as part of their function. This thesis explores the modelling of such dynamic systems using different mathematical formulations. The contribution of this work is the incorporation of friction in the formulation of such systems. The performance of any dynamical system depends on certain parameters, which can be optimized to meet a certain objective criteria. This is achieved by performing a sensitivity analysis with respect to those parameters on the mathematical formulation of the mechanism. The derivation of this approach has been explored in this thesis. For the benefit of the reader, the application of this method has been discussed using a case study of a simple 3-dimensional slider crank mechanism."],"dc:description.degree":["Master of Science"],"dc:format.medium":["ETD"],"dc:identifier.other":["vt_gsexam:31409"],"dc:identifier.uri":["http://hdl.handle.net/10919/112732"],"dc:publisher":["Virginia Tech"],"dc:rights":["In Copyright"],"dc:rights.uri":["http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/"],"dc:subject":["Design optimization","Optimal control","Friction modeling"],"dc:title":["Direct Sensitivity Analysis of Spatial Multibody Systems with Joint Friction"],"dc:type":["Thesis"],"thesis:degree_discipline":["Mechanical Engineering"],"thesis:degree_level":["masters"],"thesis:degree_name":["Master of Science"],"thesis:institution_name":["Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-22T22:19:15Z"}