Finding Dead-Point Positions of Planar Pin-Connected Linkages Through Graph Theoretical Duality Principle

Abstract

The paper brings another view on detecting the dead-point positions of an arbitrary planar pin-connected linkage by employing the duality principle of graph theory. It is first shown how the dead-point positions are derived through the interplay between the linkage and its dual determinate truss—the relation developed in the previous works by means of graph theory. At the next stage, the process is shown to be performed solely upon the linkage by employing a new variable, the dual of potential, termed face force. Since the mathematical foundation of the presented method is discrete mathematics, the paper points to possible computerization of the method.