The New Jersey Institute of Technology's
Electronic Theses & Dissertations Project

Title:	Burmester curve and numerical motion generation of Grashof mechanisms with perimeter and transmission angle optimization in MathCAD
Author:	Martin, Peter J.
View Online:	njit-etd2007-008 (xi, 73 pages ~ 6.3 MB pdf)
Department:	Department of Mechanical Engineering
Degree:	Master of Science
Program:	Mechanical Engineering
Document Type:	Thesis
Advisory Committee:	Sodhi, R. S. (Committee chair) Fischer, Ian Sanford (Committee member) Russell, Kevin (Committee member)
Date:	2007-01
Keywords:	Motion genertors Optimum planar four-bar motion generators
Availability:	Unrestricted
Abstract:	An infinite number of planar four-bar mechanism solutions exist for a series of prescribed rigid-body positions. Given a set of Burmester curves or numerically-generated fixed and moving pivot curves, sorting through the limitless number of possible mechanism solutions to find one that ensures full link rotatibility, satisfies compactness criteria and produces feasible transmission angles can be a daunting task. In this work, two algorithms are developed and presented by which the user can select optimum planar four-bar motion generators (optimum with respect to Grashof criteria, mechanism perimeter criteria and transmission angle criteria) from a set of all mechanism solutions produced by through either Burmester curves or numerically-generated fixed and moving curves. Both the Burmester curve-based method and the numerical fixed and moving pivot curve-based method have been codified in MathCAD to support advanced analysis capabilities. The examples in this work demonstrate the synthesis of optimum Grashof crank-rocker, drag link, double-rocker and triple-rocker motion generators.