Graduation Year
2007
Document Type
Thesis
Degree
M.S.M.E.
Degree Granting Department
Mechanical Engineering
Major Professor
Craig P. Lusk, Ph.D.
Keywords
Compliant mechanisms, Large deflection, Virtual work, Mems, Out of plane
Abstract
This thesis improves a previous kinematic analysis and develops the elastic portion of the analysis of a curved compliant beam. This analysis is used to develop a Pseudo-Rigid-Body Model for the curved compliant beam. The Pseudo-Rigid-Body Model consist of kinematic and elastic parameters which can be used to simplify the computation of the large deflections of the beam as it undergoes spherical motion. The kinematic parameters that are developed are the characteristic radius, Gamma*length, the parametric angle coefficient, c_theta, and the kinematic parametrization limit, Capital_theta_max(Gamma). The elastic parameters developed are the stiffness coefficient, K_theta, and the elastic parameterization limit, Capital_theta_max(K). Additionally, curve fit parameters are developed which enable the calculation of the stress in curved beam as it deflects.
Scholar Commons Citation
León, Alejandro, "A pseudo-rigid-body model for spherical mechanisms: The kinematics and elasticity of a curved compliant beam" (2007). USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations.
https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/etd/2259
