Spherical

Spherical joint (3 constraints and no potential states, or 3 degrees-of-freedom and 3 states)

Information

This information is part of the Modelica Standard Library maintained by the Modelica Association.

Joint with 3 constraints that define that the origin of frame_a and the origin of frame_b coincide. By default this joint defines only the 3 constraints without any potential states. If parameter enforceStates is set to true in the "Advanced" menu, three states are introduced. Depending on parameter useQuaternions these are either quaternions and the relative angular velocity or 3 angles and the angle derivatives. In the latter case the orientation of frame_b is computed by rotating frame_a along the axes defined in parameter vector "sequence_angleStates" (default = {1,2,3}, i.e., the Cardan angle sequence) around the angles used as states. For example, the default is to rotate the x-axis of frame_a around angles[1], the new y-axis around angles[2] and the new z-axis around angles[3], arriving at frame_b. If angles are used as states there is the slight disadvantage that a singular configuration is present leading to a division by zero.

If this joint is used in a chain structure, a Modelica translator has to select orientation coordinates of a body as states, if the default setting is used. It is usually better to use relative coordinates in the spherical joint as states, and therefore in this situation parameter enforceStates might be set to true.

If this joint is used in a loop structure, the default setting results in a cut-joint that breaks the loop in independent kinematic pieces, hold together by the constraints of this joint. As a result, a Modelica translator will first try to select 3 generalized coordinates in the joints of the remaining parts of the loop and their first derivative as states and if this is not possible, e.g., because there are only spherical joints in the loop, will select coordinates from a body of the loop as states.

In the following figure the animation of a spherical joint is shown. The light blue coordinate system is frame_a and the dark blue coordinate system is frame_b of the joint. (here: angles_start = {45, 45, 45}o).

Parameters (13)

animation

Value: true

Type: Boolean

Description: = true, if animation shall be enabled (show sphere)

sphereDiameter

Value: world.defaultJointLength

Type: Distance (m)

Description: Diameter of sphere representing the spherical joint

angles_fixed

Value: false

Type: Boolean

Description: = true, if angles_start are used as initial values, else as guess values

angles_start

Value: {0, 0, 0}

Type: Angle[3] (rad)

Description: Initial values of angles to rotate frame_a around 'sequence_start' axes into frame_b

sequence_start

Value: {1, 2, 3}

Type: RotationSequence

Description: Sequence of rotations to rotate frame_a into frame_b at initial time

w_rel_a_fixed

Value: false

Type: Boolean

Description: = true, if w_rel_a_start are used as initial values, else as guess values

w_rel_a_start

Value: {0, 0, 0}

Type: AngularVelocity[3] (rad/s)

Description: Initial values of angular velocity of frame_b with respect to frame_a, resolved in frame_a

z_rel_a_fixed

Value: false

Type: Boolean

Description: = true, if z_rel_a_start are used as initial values, else as guess values

z_rel_a_start

Value: {0, 0, 0}

Type: AngularAcceleration[3] (rad/s²)

Description: Initial values of angular acceleration z_rel_a = der(w_rel_a)

enforceStates

Value: false

Type: Boolean

Description: = true, if relative variables of spherical joint shall be used as states (StateSelect.always)

useQuaternions

Value: true

Type: Boolean

Description: = true, if quaternions shall be used as states otherwise use 3 angles as states (provided enforceStates=true)

sequence_angleStates

Value: {1, 2, 3}

Type: RotationSequence

Description: Sequence of rotations to rotate frame_a into frame_b around the 3 angles used as states

R_rel_start

Value: Frames.axesRotations(sequence_start, angles_start, zeros(3))

Type: Orientation

Description: Orientation object from frame_a to frame_b at initial time

Inputs (2)

sphereColor

Default Value: Modelica.Mechanics.MultiBody.Types.Defaults.JointColor

Type: Color

Description: Color of sphere representing the spherical joint

specularCoefficient

Default Value: world.defaultSpecularCoefficient

Type: SpecularCoefficient

Description: Reflection of ambient light (= 0: light is completely absorbed)

Connectors (2)

frame_a

Type: Frame_a

Description: Coordinate system a fixed to the component with one cut-force and cut-torque

frame_b

Type: Frame_b

Description: Coordinate system b fixed to the component with one cut-force and cut-torque

Components (5)

world

Type: World

R_rel_start

Type: Orientation

Description: Orientation object from frame_a to frame_b at initial time

sphere

Type: Shape

R_rel

Type: Orientation

Description: Dummy or relative orientation object to rotate from frame_a to frame_b

R_rel_inv

Type: Orientation

Description: Dummy or relative orientation object to rotate from frame_b to frame_a

Used in Examples (2)

GyroscopicEffects

Modelica.Mechanics.MultiBody.Examples.Rotational3DEffects

Demonstrates that a cylindrical body can be replaced by Rotor1D model

SphericalConstraint

Modelica.Mechanics.MultiBody.Examples.Constraints

Body attached by one spring and spherical joint or constrained to environment