Kinematic model of a multi-beam structure undergoing large elastic displacements and rotations. Part two: kinematic model of an open chain

In this article, is presented a new approach of kinematic modelling of a multi-body system constituted of slender deformable beams. We showed in the first part of this work that the classical modelling approaches do not take into account the large rotations which occur during the motions of a long space structure. In the first part of this work is presented an exact expression of the finite rotation field directly deduced from the centerline displacement and torsion fields of a slender beam. In this second part, we apply that result to the calculation of the kinematic model of a flexible multi-body system subjected to large displacements. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.