This document provides an overview of position analysis techniques for linkages and mechanisms. It discusses coordinate systems, position and displacement concepts, and methods for graphical and algebraic position analysis. Graphical methods involve drawing the linkage to scale based on given parameters and measuring positions. Algebraic methods develop vector loop equations in terms of complex numbers and solve for unknown positions and angles. Specific techniques are presented for common linkages including fourbars, slider-cranks, and geared fivebars.
3. Coordinate Systems
Global or Absolute
Attached to Earth
Local
Attached to a link at some point
of interest
LNCS (local nonrotating
coordinate system)
LRCS (local rotating coordinate
system)
5. Displacement
The straight-line distance between the initial and final
position of a point which has moved in the reference
frame
ABBA RRR
6. Translation, Rotation and Complex
Motion
Translation
All points on the body have the
same displacement
BBAA RR ''
7. Translation, Rotation and Complex
Motion
Rotation
Different points in the body
undergo different
displacements and thus there is
a displacement difference
between any two points chosen
Eulers theorem
BAABBB RRR ''
8. Translation, Rotation and Complex
Motion
Complex Motion
Is the sum of the translation and
rotation
ChaslesTheorem
'"'" BBBBBB RRR
'"'" ABAAAB RRR
9. Graphical Position Analysis
For any one-DOF, such a fourbar, only one
parameter is needed to completely define the
positions of all the links. The parameter usually
chosen is the angle of the input link.
10. Graphical Position Analysis
Construction of the graphical solution
The a, b, c, d and the angle 慮2 of the input link are
given.
1. The ground link (1) and the input link (2) are
drawn to a convenient scale such that they
intersect at the origin O2 of the global XY
coordinate system with link 2 placed at the input
angle 慮2.
2. Link 1 is drawn along the X axis for
convenience.
12. Graphical Position Analysis
Construction of the graphical solution
3. The compass is set to the scaled length of link
3, and an arc of that radius swung about the end
of link 2 (point A).
13. Graphical Position Analysis
Construction of the graphical solution
4. Set the compass to the scaled length of link 4,
and a second arc swung about the end of link 1
(point O4). These two arcs will have two
intersections at B and B that define the two
solution to the position problem for a fourbar
linkage which can be assembled in two
configurations, called circuits, labeled open and
crossed.
5. The angles of links 3 and 4 can be measured
with a protractor.
16. Algebraic Position Analysis
Algebraic Algorithm
Coordinates of point A
Coordinates of point B
2cosaAx
2sinaAy
222
yyxx ABABb
222
yx BdBc
17. Algebraic Position Analysis
Algebraic Algorithm
Coordinates of point B
dA
BA
S
dA
BA
dA
dcba
B
x
yy
x
yy
x
x
2
2
2
2
2
2222
02
2
2
緒件
э
c
dA
BA
SB
x
yy
y
P
PRQQ
By
2
42
縁
12
2
dA
A
P
x
y
dA
SdA
Q
x
y
2
22
cSdR
dA
dcba
S
x
2
2222
18. Algebraic Position Analysis
Algebraic Algorithm
Link angles for the
given position
件
э
xx
yy
AB
AB1
3 tan
件
э
dB
B
x
y1
4 tan
22. Algebraic Position Analysis
Complex Numbers as Vector
Complex number notation
Euler identity
縁縁
sincos je j
縁緒
j
j
je
d
de
23. Algebraic Position Analysis
Vector Loop Equation
for a Fourbar Linkage
Position vector
Complex number
notation
01432 緒 RRRR
駕駕駕
01432
緒 縁縁縁 jjjj
decebeae
0Independent
variable
To be
determine
24. Algebraic Position Analysis
Vector Loop Equation for a
Fourbar Linkage
Euler equivalents and separate
into two scalar equations
24
23
,,,,
,,,,
縁
縁
dcbaf
dcbaf
0sincossincossincossincos 11443322 緒 縁縁縁縁縁縁縁 jdjcjbja
Real part: 0coscoscos 432 緒 dcba 縁縁
0sinsinsin 432 緒 縁縁 cbaImaginary part:
26. Algebraic Position Analysis
To simplify, constants are define in terms of the
constant link length,
Substituting the identity,
Freudensteins equation
a
d
K 1
424232241 sinsincoscoscoscos 縁縁縁縁縁 緒 KKK
c
d
K 2
ac
dcba
K
2
2222
3
424242 sinsincoscoscos 縁縁縁縁縁 緒
4232241 coscoscos 縁縁縁 緒 KKK
27. Algebraic Position Analysis
Using half angle identities,
Simplified form
2
tan1
2
tan2
sin
42
4
4
2
tan1
2
tan1
cos
42
42
4
0
2
tan
2
tan 442
緒
CBA
縁
3221
2
32212
cos1
sin2
coscos
KKKC
B
KKKA
縁
28. Algebraic Position Analysis
The solution,
If the solution is complex conjugate, the link lengths
chosen are not capable of connection
The solution will usually be real and unequal
Crossed (+)
Open (-)
A
ACBB
2
4
2
tan
2
4 縁
緒
縁
A
ACBB
2
4
arctan2
2
4 2,1
29. Algebraic Position Analysis
Solution for 慮3
Square and add
dbac 324 coscoscos 縁縁
324 sinsinsin 縁縁 bac
323252431 sinsincoscoscoscos 縁縁縁縁縁 緒 KKK
b
d
K 4
ab
badc
K
2
2222
5
0
2
tan
2
tan 332
緒
FED
縁
5241
2
52412
cos1
sin2
coscos
KKKF
E
KKKD
縁
30. Algebraic Position Analysis
The solution,
If the solution is complex conjugate, the link lengths
chosen are not capable of connection
The solution will usually be real and unequal
Crossed (+)
Open (-)
縁
D
DFEE
2
4
arctan2
2
3 2,1
31. Algebraic Position Analysis
Fourbar 際際滷r-Crank
Linkage
Position vector
Complex number
notation
01432 緒 RRRR
駕駕駕
01432
緒 縁縁縁 jjjj
decebeae
0Independent
variable
To be
determine
32. Algebraic Position Analysis
Vector Loop Equation for a
Fourbar Linkage
Euler equivalents and separate
into two scalar equations
0sincossincossincossincos 11443322 緒 縁縁縁縁縁縁縁 jdjcjbja
Real part: 0coscoscos 432 緒 dcba 縁縁
0sinsinsin 432 緒 縁縁 cbaImaginary part:
35. Algebraic Position Analysis
Geared Fivebar Linkage
Position vector
Complex number notation
015432 緒 RRRRR
駕駕駕駕
015432
緒 縁縁縁縁 jjjjj
fedecebeae
36. Algebraic Position Analysis
Geared Fivebar Linkage
Using the relationship
between the two geared
links;
Complex number notation
縁 25
012432
緒 縁縁縁縁 jjjjj
fedecebeae
ratiogear,
anglephase,