Article ID Journal Published Year Pages File Type
803931 Precision Engineering 2013 11 Pages PDF
Abstract

The design synthesis of compliant mechanisms yields optimized topologies that combine several stiff parts with highly elastic flexural hinges. The hinges are often represented in a finite element analysis by a single node (one-node hinge), which leaves the actual physical meaning of the hinge (to be fabricated) ambiguous. In order to circumvent this problem, in this work, one-noded hinges have the fatigue-life incorporated into them during the design synthesis by embedding analytical expressions accounting for stress concentration, surface finish, non-zero mean stresses and superposed multiple loading conditions into the formulation. Various flexural hinges with rectangular, circular and parabolic profile geometries are investigated. By incorporating the hinge geometry and fatigue behavior into the design process, unclear interpretation issues that would be encountered during any later manufacturing stage of a compliant mechanism design are removed. Examples are provided to illustrate the overall process.

► Life cycle analysis and optimal design of planar flexure hinges are presented. ► Rectangular, circular and parabolic profile geometries are investigated. ► Stress concentration, surface finish, non-zero mean stresses and superposed loading conditions are taken into account. ► Explicit, analytical expressions are derived, inversely solved and applied.

Related Topics
Physical Sciences and Engineering Engineering Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering
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