Model Constraints
Constraints arise when the motion of a body is restricted by connections to other bodies.
For example, when two bodies are connected by a ball and socket joint, they can only rotate with respect to each other. The relative translational degrees of freedom are eliminated by the ball and socket joint. The bodies are said to be constrained by the ball and socket joint. Mathematically, the ball and socket joint manifests as an algebraic equation called the constraint equation.
Constraints are classified in several ways. One key classification is based on whether the constraint depends explicitly on time. Constraints without explicit time dependence are used to model joints, such as the ball and socket joint and the universal joint. Constraints with explicit time dependence are used to represent prescribed motions into the system, such as the constant speed spinning motion of a turbine. For other classifications, refer to dynamics textbooks, such as Advanced Engineering Dynamics by J. H. Ginsberg.
Each constraint introduces, internally, constraint forces and/or moments that enforce the algebraic relationship implied by the constraint. These constraint forces and moments can be computed using MotionSolve to obtain the loads acting through the connections in your mechanism. In the case of prescribed motions, the constraint forces provide driving forces and moments which are useful in estimating the capacity required of actuators to achieve those motions.
Joints
Joints are models of interconnections between machine components. Perhaps the most familiar example is a door hinge which may be modeled as a revolute joint. This joint has only one degree of freedom corresponding to the rotation about the joint axis.
| Constraint Type | Translational Constraints | Rotational Constraints | Total Constraints |
|---|---|---|---|
| Constraint_Coupler | 1 | ||
| Constraint_CVCV | 3 | ||
| Constraint_CVSF | 1 | ||
| Constraint_Gear | 1 | ||
| Constraint_Joint: CONSTANT_VELOCITY | 3 | 1 | 4 |
| Constraint_Joint: CYLINDRICAL | 2 | 2 | 4 |
| Constraint_Joint: FIXED | 3 | 3 | 6 |
| Constraint_Joint: FREE | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Constraint_Joint: INLINE | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| Constraint_Joint: INPLANE | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Constraint_Joint: ORIENTATION | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| Constraint_Joint: PARALLEL_AXES | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Constraint_Joint: PERPENDICULAR | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Constraint_Joint: PLANAR | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Constraint_Joint: RACK_PINION | 1 | ||
| Constraint_Joint: REVOLUTE | 3 | 2 | 5 |
| Constraint_Joint: SCREW | 1 | ||
| Constraint_Joint: SPHERICAL | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| Constraint_Joint: TRANSLATIONAL | 2 | 3 | 5 |
| Constraint_Joint: UNIVERSAL | 3 | 1 | 4 |
| Constraint_PTCV | 2 | ||
| Constraint_PTSF | 1 | ||
| Constraint_SFSF | 1 | ||
| Constraint_PTDCV | 2 | ||
| Constraint_PTDSF | 1 |
These joints are also called configuration constraints because they can be expressed purely in terms of the configuration of the system without requiring the velocity terms. Further, they are not a function of time. Such constraints are also called "workless constraints" because they do not add or remove energy from a system.
Note that joints provide great computational efficiency in simulating complex mechanical systems, such as a full car or truck assembly precisely by "idealizing away" effects, such as clearance and friction. However, these effects may be important in some cases. MotionSolve allows you to model these effects in other ways. For example, to model clearance, you may replace the joint with a contact force element. To model friction in a joint, you may use a force or torque as a function of joint reactions and kinematics.
Motions
Much like joints, motions are an idealized representation of actuators. They constrain some degrees of freedom to vary as a specified function of time. The corresponding constraint force is the effort required to produce the motion. Motions may add or remove energy from a system.
Redundant Constraints
It is possible for you to "over constrain" a system by adding too many constraints. The door is a typical example of an over constrained system. A typical door has three hinges connecting it to the door frame. When the hinge is represented with a revolute joint, only one hinge is needed in the model. The hinge is idealized and it cannot deform or bend. The other two hinges are "redundant" because they do not add any new information to the system. Mathematically, the two sets of constraint equations contributed by the other two hinges are indistinguishable from the set contributed by the first one.
This redundancy manifests itself as a rank-deficiency in the matrices that are internally generated by MotionSolve, which means that there is no unique solution to the problem as posed. Instead of exiting at this point with an error, MotionSolve is designed to detect this condition and automatically remove the redundant constraints so that a unique solution can be found and the simulation can proceed.
WARNING: The following redundant constraints were removed:
-------------------------------------------------
(1) Joint/301004 : DOT1 between X of Part/30101 & Z of Part/30103
(2) Joint/301004 : SPH_Y between Part/30101 & Part/30103
(3) Joint/301002 : DOT1 between Y of Part/30102 & Z of Part/30104
-------------------------------------------------
NOTE: DOT1 is the perpendicular constraint between two axes.
DOT2 is the perpendicular constraint between an axis and a vector rj->ri.
SPH_X(or Y,Z) is the coincidental constraint between the X(or Y,Z) of two points.
DIST is the distance constraint between two points.
The existence of redundant constraints may indicate potential modeling errors.
See Users Manual for further info and remarks.
- DOT1
- This constraint is defined between two vectors. Each vector is an axis that belongs to a
marker that is attached to each body. This constraint requires the two axes to be
perpendicular to each other. This constraint is used in a number of joints in MotionSolve including the fixed joint, revolute joint, and cylindrical
joint, for example. As an example, the DOT1 constraint is illustrated in Figure 2 and Figure 3 for a fixed joint
between two bodies.
Figure 2. Body 1 is Attached to Ground Using a Fixed Joint at Point P 
Figure 3. DOT1 Constraint Between Z Axis on Body 1 and X Axis on Ground 
- DOT2
- This constraint, like DOT1, is defined between two vectors. One vector is an axis that
belongs to a marker that is attached to one body. The other vector is defined in between the
two bodies. This constraint requires the two vectors to be perpendicular to each other. This
constraint is used in a number of joints in MotionSolve including
the planar joint, inline joint, and inplane joint, for example. As an example, the DOT2
constraint is illustrated in Figure 4 and Figure 5 for an inplane joint between two bodies.
Figure 4. Body 1 is Attached to Ground Using an Inplane Joint at Point P 
Figure 5. DOT2 Constraint Between Z Axis on Body 1 and Vector From Body1 Marker Origin to Ground Marker Origin 
- SPH_X, SPH_Y, SPH_Z
- The spherical constraint also acts between two markers. This SPH_X, SPH_Y, and SPH_Z
constraints require that the X, Y, and Z positions of the two marker origins be the same
respectively. One or more of these constraints are used in the fixed joint, ball joint, and
revolute joint, for example. This is illustrated in Figure 6 and Figure 7 for a spherical or
ball joint.
Figure 6. Body 1 is Attached to Body 2 Using a Ball Joint at Point P 
Figure 7. SPH_X, SPH_Y and SPH_Z Constraints Between the Position Vector of Two Markers 
- DIST
- This constraint, like the SPH_* constraint also prescribes the distance between the
origins of two markers. The DIST constraint requires that the magnitude of the difference
between the position vectors of the two marker's origins be equal to a certain value. In the
case that this value is equal to zero, this constraint becomes equivalent to the SPH_X,
SPH_Y, and SPH_Z constraints combined. This is illustrated in Figure 8.
Figure 8. DIST Constraint Between the Position Vector of Two Markers 
To further illustrate the use of these constraints, the table below describes how these constraints are used to model common joints between bodies.Constraint Type Description Type of joint SPH_X, SPH_Y, SPH_Z Constrain 3 Translational Displacements Fixed Joint 3 DOT1 Constrain 3 Rotational Displacements SPH_X, SPH_Y and SPH_Z Constrain 3 Translational Displacements Ball or Spherical Joint SPH_X, SPH_Y and SPH_Z Constrain 3 Translational Displacements Revolute Joint 2 DOT1 Constraint 2 Rotational Displacements