Abstract: The effects of spatial clearance and its influencing factors on the system dynamic responses in kinetic/dynamic simulation of mechanical system with clearance joints should be considered. A revolute clearance vector model in consideration of manufacturing error is developed for the virtual prototyping simulation of large heary-duty mechanism. Based on the clearance vector model, the kinetic relationship between two adjacent linked bodies is obtained. And the dynamic relationship based on the model of nonlinear contact force is also presented. An example is presented to demonstrate the reliability of the proposed model, with different clearance sizes and manufacturing errors.

Key words: Clearance variation model, Clearance vector model, Dynamic simulation, Revolute clearance joint, Virtual prototyping