The current paper addresses modelling and simulation of spatial compliant mechanisms, which links are of one dimensional structure. Applications of compliant mechanisms in macroscopic devices (i.e. clutches, switches) offer the advantages of cost reduction due to a lower number of parts or reduced assembly time and the avoidance of friction and wear. In microscopic devices compliant mechanisms usually apply because classical joints cannot be scaled down to the desired measurements. Usually these structures can be described with respect to their kinematic and kinetic variables for beam elements. Here the basic ideas for the calculation of compliant mechanisms at finite deformations from the viewpoint of continuum mechanics and numerics are applied. A common approach to model and simulate these structures is the use of beam elements with shape functions. Usually problems occur regarding accuracy or convergence if large deformations have to be faced. Here the beam structure is described with respect to the rates of its kinematic and kinetic variables. Using a finite element approach based on transfer matrices leads to a linear Boundary Value Problem embedded into a nonlinear Initial Value Problem. The result of this method is a fast analysis program (KOBA3D), whose abilities are presented in two examples and which results are compared to reference calculations in ABAQUS.
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