Skip to main content
Log in

Geometric methods in determining rigid-body dynamics

  • Published:
Experimental Mechanics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This research develops a measurement system using linear accelerometers to determine the three-dimensional, six degrees of freedom, impact response of an anthropomorphic test device (dummy). A procedure using spherical geometric analysis (SGA) was developed. It uses three triaxial accelerometer clusters for determining angular velocity, angular acceleration, and linear acceleration. SGA differs in its calculation of angular velocity from other procedures which determine rigid-body motion. Unlike procedures which use linear accelerometers to determine angular velocity by integration of angular acceleration, SGA uses the topology of the sphere to obtain both angular acceleration and angular velocity through algebraic manipulation of the output from the linear accelerations. The validation of SGA is accomplished by the use of hypothetical as well as experimental data.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Padgaonkar, A.J., Krieger, K.W., and King, A. “Measurement of Angular Accelerations of a Rigid Body Using Linear Accelerometers,” J. Appl. Mech., 552–556 (1975).

  2. Mertz, H.J., “Kinematics and Kinetics of Whiplash,”PhD Diss., Wayne State Univ., Detroit (1967).

    Google Scholar 

  3. Kane, T.R., Hayes, W.C. andPriest, J.D., “Experimental Determination of Forces Exerted in Tennis Play,”Biomechanics IV, University Park Press, Baltimore, 898–904 (1974).

    Google Scholar 

  4. Alem, N.M., Benson, J.B., Holstein, G.L. andMelvin, J.W., “Whole Body Response Research Program—MethodologyFinal Rep. No. UMHSRI-77-39-2, Univ. of Michigan, Ann Arbor (1978).

    Google Scholar 

  5. Bartz, J.A., Butler, F.E., “Passenger Compartment with Six Degrees of Auxiliary Programs to Three Dimensional Computer Simulation of a Motor Vehicle Crash Victim,”Final Tech. Rep. for DOT Contract No. FH-11-7592, Galspan Corporation, Buffalo (1972).

    Google Scholar 

  6. Becker, F. and Williams, G., “An Experimentally Validated 3-D Inertial Tracking package for Application in Biodynamic Research,” Proc. 19th Stapp Car Crash Conf., San Diego (Nov. 1975).

  7. Viano, D.C., Melvin, J.W., McLeary, J.D. Madeira, R.G., Shee, T.R. and Horsch, J.D., “Measurement of Head Dynamics and Facial Contact Forces in the Hybrid III Dummy,” 30th Stapp Car Crash Proc., SAE Tech. Paper 861891, Soc. of Automotive Eng., 269–289 (1987).

  8. Abraham, R., andMarsden, J.E., Foundations of Mechanics, Benjamin/Cummings, Reading, MA (1978).

    Google Scholar 

  9. Bishop, R.L. andGoldberg, S.I., Tensor Analysis on Manifolds, Dover, Publications Inc., New York (1980).

    Google Scholar 

  10. Spivak, M., A Comprehensive Introduction to Differential Geometry,2,Publish or Perish, Inc.,Berkeley (1979).

    Google Scholar 

  11. Stoker, J.J., Differential Geometry, Wiley Interscience, New York (1969).

    Google Scholar 

  12. Misner, C.W., Thorne, K.S., andWheeler, J.A., Gravitation, W.H. Freeman and Co., San Francisco (1973).

    Google Scholar 

  13. O'Neill, B., Elementary Differential Geometry, Academic Press Inc., New York (1967).

    Google Scholar 

  14. Nusholtz G.S., “Geometric Methods in Head Impact Response,”Mathematical Biosciences,91 (85),10 (1988).

    Google Scholar 

  15. Nusholtz, G. S., Molinaro, R., “Force Deflection Curves for Airbag Responses,” Experimental Techniques (April 1991).

  16. Nusholtz, G.S., Wu, J. and Kaiker, P. “Passenger Air Bag Study Using Geometric Analysis of Rigid Body Motion,Experimental Mechanics (Sept. 1991).

  17. Plank, G., Weinstock, H., Coltman, M., and Lee, H., “Methodology for the calibration of and Data Acquisition with a Six-Degree-of-Freedom Acceleration Measurement Device” Cambridge, MA 02142. Final Report (June 1989).

  18. Nusholtz, G.S., “A Simple Non-linear Shift Variant Process/Filter for Reducing Gaussian Noise in Impact Signals,”J. of Sound and Vibration,120 (3),567–585 (1988).

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Nusholtz, G.S. Geometric methods in determining rigid-body dynamics. Experimental Mechanics 33, 153–158 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02322492

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02322492

Keywords

Navigation