Systematic Integration of Finite Element Methods Into Multibody Dynamics Considering Hyperelasticity and Plasticity

Abstract

This study proposes a systematic extension of a multiflexiblebody dynamics (MFBD) formulation that is based on a recursive formulation for rigid body dynamics. It is extended to include nonlinear plastic and hyperelastic material models for the flexible bodies. The flexible bodies in the existing MFBD formulation use a finite element formulation based on corotational elements. The rigid bodies and flexible bodies are coupled using the method of Lagrange multipliers. The extensions to add plasticity and hyperelasticity are outlined. A solid, bricktype element and a shell element are adapted from the literature for use with the plastic material, and a constant volume constraint is introduced to enforce the approximation of incompressibility with the hyperelastic materials. A brief overview of the MFBD formulation and the details required to extend the formulation to incorporate these nonlinear material models are presented. Numerical examples are presented to demonstrate the feasibility of the model.