Configuration Analysis of Metamorphic Mechanisms Based on Extended Adjacency Matrix Operations

The adjacency matrix operations,which connect with configuration transformation correspondingly,can be used for analysis of configuration transformation of metamorphic mechanisms and the corresponding algorithm can easily be simulated by computer.But the adjacency matrix based on monochrome topological graph is not suitable for the topological representation of mechanisms with multiple joints.The method of adjacency matrix operations has its own limitations for analysis of configuration transformation of metamorphic mechanisms because it can only be used in the topological representation of mechanisms with single joints.In order to overcome the drawback of the adjacency matrix,a kind of new matrix named as extended adjacency matrix is proposed to express topological structures of all mechanisms.The extended adjacency matrix is not only suitable for the topological representation of mechanisms with single joints,but also can be used in that of mechanisms with multiple joints.On this basis,a method of matrix operations based on the extended adjacency matrix is proposed to analyze the configuration transformation of metamorphic mechanisms.The method is not only suitable for configuration analysis of metamorphic mechanisms with single joints as well as metamorphic mechanisms with multiple joints.The method is evaluated by calculating two examples representing metamorphic mechanisms with single joint and multiple joints respectively.It can be concluded that the method is effective and correct for analysis of configuration transformation of all metamorphic mechanisms.The proposed method is simple and easy to be achieved by computer programming.It provides a basis for structural synthesis of all metamorphic mechanisms.

Research on the Structural Rigidity Characteristics of a Reconfigurable TBM Thrust Mechanism

To improve the adaptability of TBMs in diverse geological environments,this paper proposes a reconfigurable Type-V thrust mechanism(V-TM)with rearrangeable working states,in which structural stiffness can be automatically altered during operation.Therefore,millions of configurations can be obtained,and thousands of instances of working status per configuration can be set respectively.Nonetheless,the complexity of configurations and diversity of working states contributes to further complications for the structural stiffness algorithm.This results in challenges such as difficulty calculating the payload compliance index and the environment adaptability index.To solve this problem,we use the configuration matrix to describe the relationship between propelling jacks under reconfiguration and adopt pattern vectors to describe the working state of each hydraulic cylinder.Then,both the dynamic compatible equation between propeller forces of the hydraulic cylinders and driving forces,and the kinematic harmonizing equation between the hydraulic cylinder displacements and their deformations are established.Next,we derive the stiffness analytical equation using Hooke’s law and the Jacobian Matrix.The proposed approach provides an effective algorithm to support structural rigidity analysis,and lays a solid theoretical foundation for calculating the performance indexes of the V-TM.We then analyze the rigidity characteristics of typical configurations under different working states,and obtain the main factors affecting structural stiffness of the V-TM.The results show the deviation degree of structural parameters in hydraulic cylinders within the same group,and the working status of propelling jacks.Finally,our constructive conclusions contribute valuable information for matching and optimization by drawing on the factors that affect the structural rigidity of the V-TM.