Position Analysis of Mechanisms http://ocw.metu.edu.tr/pluginfile.php/3960/mod_resource/content/1/ch3/3-...

The main difference between freely moving bodies and the moving links in a
mechanism is that they have a constrained motion due to the joints in
between the links. The links connected by joints form closed polygons that
we shall call a loop. The motion analysis of mechanisms is based on
expressing these loops mathematically.

In kinematic analysis we shall assume that all the necessary dimensions of

each link is given and link length dimensions (i.e. the distance between the
joints or the angles) can be determined from the given dimensions using the
geometry of the link.

In Section 2.1.2, we have seen that it is sufficient to represent the position of

each link (rigid body) by describing the position of any two points on that link.
One way of selecting these two points on a link is to use the permanently
coincident points. It is obvious that in such a procedure, the origin of a vector
will be defined by the previous vector and thus the number of parameters to
define the link positions will be decreased.

Let us consider a four-bar mechanism as shown above as a simple example.

In this mechanism A0 ,is a permanently coincident point between links 1 and
2, A is peranently coincident point between links 2 and 3, B between 3 and 4
and B0 between 1 and 4. Let us disconnect joint B. In such a case we will
obtain two open kinematic chains A0 AB (links 2,3) with two degrees of
freedom and A0 B0B (links 1,4) with one degree of freedom (Fig.2.7b). To
determine the positions of the links we must have a reference frame. One
obvious choice is to select the fixed pivots A0, B0 as one of the co-ordinate
axes and select A0 or B0 as the origin. Next,in order to define the position of
link 2, we must define angle 12 , which is related with the degree of freedom
of the joint between links 1 and 2. To determine the position of link 3, since
the location of the permanently coincident point A between 2 and 3 can be
determined when 12 defined, we must now define 13 , which is related to
the freedom of the joint between links 2 and 3. Similarly 14 must be defined
to determine the position of link 4. Hence we need 3 parameters ( 12 , 13
and 14 ) which are all related to the joint freedoms for the open kinematic
chains obtained when we disconnect a joint to eliminate a loop.

1 of 10 22/09/2013 7:36 AM
Position Analysis of Mechanisms http://ocw.metu.edu.tr/pluginfile.php/3960/mod_resource/content/1/ch3/3-...

Each link can be defined by a vector fixed on that link, let us select the
permanently coincident points between the links as the tips of these vectors
and define vector A0A (for link 2), AB (for link 3), B0B (for link 4) and A0B0
(for link 1). Except A0B0 , the other three vectors will be a function of time
(since the distances between the two points on the same link are fixed, the
magnitudes will remain constant but the directions of these vectors will
change in time). Since the mechanism contains revolute joints only, The
magnitude of the vectors are constant link lengths(A0A=a2, AB=a3, A0B0=a1
ve B0B=a4). The angular orientation of these vectors will be rotation variables
( 12 , 13 ve 14 ). When the joint at B is disconnected, B3 and B4 may not
be coincident. For the open kinematic chain, the position of point B may be
defined in two different forms as:

A0A +AB=A0B3 (1,2,3 open loop)

A0B0 +B0B= A0B4 (1,4 open loop)

However, at every instant the revolute joint between links 3 and 4 must exist
and point B must remain a permanently coincident point for different values of
the position variables if the system we are considering is a mechanism.
Therefore the vector A0B3 and A0B4 obtained from the two equations using
the two open kinematic chains must be equal and this results with the vector
equation::

A0A +AB=A0B0 +B0B

This vector equation must be valid for all positions due to the permanetly
coincident points. If this vector equation can nott be satisfied for a given input
angle, then that position cannot exist (mechanism cannot be assembled at
that position).

In a four-bar mechanism there is a single loop formed and the vector equation
describes the closure of this loop mathematically.The equation(s) that
describes the closure of the loop(s) formed in the mechanism are known as
loop closure equation(s). The variables in the loop closure equations are
always related by the joint freedoms and we can solve for two position
variables from any loop equation. In plane the vector equation will correspond
to two scalar equations. In the four-bar example there are three variables (
12, 13 and 14) which we shall call "position variables". If one of the
position variable ( say 12 ), the other position variables ( 13 and 14) can
be solved from this vector loop equation. The number of independent
parameters that are required will always be equal to the degree-of-freedom of
the mechanism. The relation between the position variables is a nonlinear,
trigonometric relation.

One simple and concise form of writing the vector loop equations is to use
complex numbers. for example, If the length of the vector A0A is a2 and if the
vector makes an angle 12:

2 of 10 22/09/2013 7:36 AM
Position Analysis of Mechanisms http://ocw.metu.edu.tr/pluginfile.php/3960/mod_resource/content/1/ch3/3-...

A0A = a2cos 12+ ia2sin 12

or, using Euler's equation:

A0A = a2

In a similar fashion if the link lengths are denoted as ai olarak ( a1= A0B0 , a2=
A0A, etc.) the vector loop equation in complex numbers can be written as:

a2 +a3 =a1+a4

If required, the equation can be written in cartesian coordinates as:

x and y components can be equated separetely two yield two scalar

equations in the form::

a2cos 12 + a3cosq 13 = a1 + a4cos 14

a2sin 12 + a3sinq 13 = a4sin 14

In case of a four-bar, the vectors in the loop closure equation have fixed
magnitudes. However, the angular inclinations of the three vectors
representing the moving links will change. Hence, there are three position
variables ( 12, 13 and 14). If one of these variables is defined, the
remaining two variables can be solved from the vector equation. If we refer to
the definition of the degree-of-freedom of a mechanism, the variable that must
be defined is the input variable and for a constrained motion the number of
input variables must be equal to the degree-of-freedom of the joints involved.
In case of a four-bar, since all the connections are revolute joints, the
variables are all rotation variables. In case of a prismatic joint, the variable will
be the magnitude of a vector or a vector component. Consider a slider-crank
mechanism as shown in Fig. A.. Let us disconnect the revolute joint at B
(Fig.B). In order to determine the positions of links 2 and 3 we must define
12and 13. To locate the position of link 4 its displacement along the slider
axis must be known and the position variable s14 must be defined. The
resulting loop closure equation is:

3 of 10 22/09/2013 7:36 AM
Position Analysis of Mechanisms http://ocw.metu.edu.tr/pluginfile.php/3960/mod_resource/content/1/ch3/3-...

AoA + AB = AoB

Again there are 3 variables ( 12, 13 and s14) one of which must be specified
as the input. In this case the vectors AoA and AB have fixed magnitudes and
varying directions. The vector AoB has a fixed y component (length c) and a
changing x component (s14). Depending on the applications either 12 (i.e. in
pumps) or s14 (i.e. internal combustion engines) is the input.In complex
numbers the vector loop equation will be:

a2 +a3 = s14 + ic

The vectors defined and the variables used in the loop closure equations are
not unique. For example, for the slider crank mechanism, rather than
disconnecting the revolute joint at B, one can as well disconnect the revolute
joint at A between links 2 and 3 (Fig C). We must now define the angle 13'=
xBA instead of the angle 13 o determine the position of link 3. Note that
the angles. 13 and 13' differ by a constant angle (In this case by 180o).
The resulting loop equation is:

AoA = AoB + AB

or in complex numbers:

'
a2 = s14 + ic +a3

The loop closure equations of a six link mechanism

4 of 10 22/09/2013 7:36 AM
Position Analysis of Mechanisms http://ocw.metu.edu.tr/pluginfile.php/3960/mod_resource/content/1/ch3/3-...

Referring to the four-bar mechanism above, one can write a vector equation in
the form::

AoA +AB = AoB

Considering the vector AoB the magnitude and direction of this vector are
variables (or its x and y components) and these variables are not related with
the joint freedoms.we can solve for the vector AoB provided that the
magnitudes and the directions of the other two vectors are known. Such an
equation will not help us for the solution of position variables. Although it is a
valid vector equation, it is not a loop closure equation. One can identify
such loops by noting the variables involved are not related with the joint
freedoms and these equations are not obtained by disconnecting the joints.

A similar argument can also be made for the vector equations:

AoA + AC = AoC ve AB + BC = AC

In the later case, all three vectors are on the same link and they have a fixed
orientation with respect to each other. If the origin and the angular orientation
of one of the vectors is known, due to rigidity the orientation of the other
vectors will be known.

5 of 10 22/09/2013 7:36 AM
Position Analysis of Mechanisms http://ocw.metu.edu.tr/pluginfile.php/3960/mod_resource/content/1/ch3/3-...

In certain other cases we may have to use instantaneously coincident points

or other points on the links as the tips of the vectors, as shown in Fig. 2.14.
The variable involved in such a case is the relative displacement of one link
with respect to another link. The vector BoA can be separated into two
components: BoC and CA so that one component is of constant magnitude
and the magnitude of the other vector is related to the displacement of the
prismatic joint between links 3 and 4. The loop closure equation can than be
written in the form:

AoA = AoBo + BoC + CA

or in complex numbers:

Points A2 ve A3 are permanently coincident points. Point A4 is

instantaneously coincident with point A3 when the mechanism is moved from
this position the two points will be displaced by a distance s along the
slider axis relative to each other. Points A2 and A3 will be two other different
points that will be coincident with (A') (Fig. C).

The vector CA changes both its magnitude and direction. However its
orientation with respect to the vector B0C will be fixed, and no new variable is
needed. If the orientation of the vector B0C is whown by the variable 14

6 of 10 22/09/2013 7:36 AM
Position Analysis of Mechanisms http://ocw.metu.edu.tr/pluginfile.php/3960/mod_resource/content/1/ch3/3-...

measured from the positive x-axis of our reference, the orientation of the
vector CA with respect to positive x axis is 14+ 4 and angle 4 is a
constant angle measured on link 4 between two lines BoC and CP (point P is
any point on the slider axis on link 4) The position variables in the loop
equation will be 12, 14 and s43 .

Note that the same vector loop equation can be derived for the swinging block
mechanism shown above. Therefore, the inverted slider crank mechanism is
the same as the swinging block mechanism although their construction is
different. Although it is a different construction, If the link dimensions (a2, a4,
4) are the same, the motion of the two mechanisms will be the same.

When writing the vector loop equations one must be sure that the equations
are valid for every position of the mechanism. The mechanism may be at a
special position such that one or more of the links are collinear as shown
above. (Although links 2 and 1 are collinear, they will have different
orientations at some other instant). In such a case you may redraw the
mechanism slightly offset from the critical position or show the variable angle
12 , as shown. In some cases if the constant link angles between two
vectors are of a certain simple value (such as 900), then it is advisable to
simplifiy the equations accordingly. For example if the angle 4 of the
inverted slider crank mechanism is a right angle, The loop closure equation
must be written as:

7 of 10 22/09/2013 7:36 AM
Position Analysis of Mechanisms http://ocw.metu.edu.tr/pluginfile.php/3960/mod_resource/content/1/ch3/3-...

The solution to the loop equations may not exist for every value of the
independent parameter. This will mean that for that particular link lengths the
mechanism cannot be assembled at the requested position.

-How will you determine the number of independent loops from the
number of joints and links?-
In planar mechanisms we can write vector loop equations for each loop of the
mechanism. This corresponds to L (L= number of independent loops) vector
equations or 2L scalar equations, if we equate the x and y components of
vectors. The number of parameters involved in these equations will be 2L+ F,
where F is the degree of freedom of the mechanism. If we now define F
number of variables (independent variables or input parameters (variables)),
then theoretically, we must be able to solve for the other variables (dependent
position parameteres). We can change the input variable within a given range
in certain increments and obtain the values for the dependent variables. For
example if the input variable corresponds to the angle that defines the
angular position of an input crank, we change this angle from 0 to 360o. If the
input is the movement of a piston inside a cylinder, then we change this
length of the piston starting from the closed position to the most extended
position (the difference is the stroke of the piston).

When we determine the values of all the position variables corresponding to a

certain input variable, then we can determine the position of any point on any
link of the mechanism.

One need not draw the mechanism with dismantled joints to write
the loop equations. After some practice one can conceptually disconect
the joints, identify the loops and the write the necessary loop equations.
Initially of course, as a visual aid, we have shown the joints are shown
disconnected.

In the following examples the necessary loop equations for some

mechanisms are written. The loop equations and the variables defined are not
unique. You are to determine the joint that is disconnected when writing the
given loop equation.

In recent years different package programs are available for the analysis of
mechanisms. When using these programs, you must input these loops by
telling the program which link is connected to which link by what kind of a
joint (i.e. what kind of freedom is permitted by that joint). If you are using
mathematical packages such as matlab or mathcad, you must type these
equations in one form or another. A slight mistake in the loop equations
results with erroneous results. Please keep in mind that these equations
define the mathematical model of an existing mechanism. This mathematical
model can be solved in different ways as we shall see in the coming sections.

Example I.

8 of 10 22/09/2013 7:36 AM
Position Analysis of Mechanisms http://ocw.metu.edu.tr/pluginfile.php/3960/mod_resource/content/1/ch3/3-...

(A0A=a2, AB= a3, BC=a4)

A0A + AB + BC = A0C

A0A + AD = A0D0 + D0D

Example II.

9 of 10 22/09/2013 7:36 AM
Position Analysis of Mechanisms http://ocw.metu.edu.tr/pluginfile.php/3960/mod_resource/content/1/ch3/3-...

A0A = A0B0 + B0B + BA

A0C = A0B0 + B0B + BC

Example III.

B0B + BC + CD = B0A0 + A0A + AD

B0B + BC = B0C0 + C0C

Due to the gear pair: r3 13= -r2( 12- 2) (when 13=0; 12= 2)

10 of 10 22/09/2013 7:36 AM