An Absolute Nodal Coordinate Formulation for the Large Rotation and deformation Analysis of Flexible Bodies

There are three basic finite element formulations which are often used in flexible multibody dynamics. These are the floating frame of reference approach, the incremental method, and the large rotation vector approach. In the floating frame of reference and incremental formulations, the slopes are assumed small in order to define infinitesimal rotations that can be treated and transformed as vectors. This description, however, limits the use of some important elements such as beams and plates in a wide range of large displacement applications. As demonstrated in some recent publications, if infinitesimal rotations are used as nodal coordinates, the use of the finite element incremental formulations in the…