Abstract
A variety of mechanisms are used in modern aircrafts and spacecrafts. These mechanisms are involved in
different non-uniform motions. As a result of this, the mechanisms are under inertia loads. Currently, very often the
mechanisms are made by continuously inhomogeneous engineering materials. When the mechanisms have
viscoelastic behaviour, the study of dissipated energy (DE) is of a considerable interest. In this paper, the DE problem
in continuously inhomogeneous mechanisms is treated on theoretical level. The mechanisms are composed by links
connected through hinges permitting relative rotations. The links represent rectilinear rods of non-linear viscoelastic
behavior. Besides, the inks are continuously inhomogeneous along their thickness and length. An approach for
obtaining the DE in mechanisms of general configuration located in vertical plane is developed. The mechanisms are
designed for transferring specific motions. Therefore, the law of motion of each link of the mechanism is known. The
links acted upon by inertia loads are analyzed by non-linear viscoelastic models with springs and dashpots. The
density of dissipated energy (DDE) is found via studying the dashpots behavior. The DE in the mechanism is
obtained through integration of the DDE in the links. Solution of the DE in a particular mechanism consisting of two
links is derived by applying the approach. A check-up of the DE is performed by a previously published solution. It is
investigated how the DE relates with the parameters of the mechanism. The findings provide insight into the
dissipation of strain energy in continuously inhomogeneous mechanisms.
Key Words
dissipated energy; material inhomogeneity; mechanism; motion; viscoelastic behaviour
Address
Victor I. Rizov: Department of Technical Mechanics, University of Architecture, Civil Engineering and Geodesy, 1 Chr.
Smirnensky blvd., 1046 – Sofia, Bulgaria
