Optimal Synthesis of Flexible Link Mechanisms with Large Static Deflections

Flexible link mechanisms (commonly referred to as flexural mechanisms) subjected to large static deflections are analyzed and synthesized for function generation. The large deflections present nonlinear problems. The nonlinear analysis is performed by the finite element method with aid of Martin’s linear incremental procedure and the synthesis problems are solved by the optimization techniques of Fletcher and Powell’s variable metric method. The techniques are demonstrated on mechanisms in which one or two links are flexible. The obtained analytical results are verified experimentally.