Design propagation in kinematics of mechanical systems

This paper presents a general applicable method for studying design propagations in kinematics of mechanical systems. The formulation for computing the effects of design changes in design parameters of mechanical parts or mechanisms (open- and closed-loop) is based on kinematic criteria from formulations used in multibody dynamics analyses. A geometric change is propagated throughout the mechanical part or mechanism, and its effect on the kinematical behavior is calculated. The classical variational approach is implemented to derive position, velocity, and acceleration propagations. This analysis enables selection of better design parameters, enhances the design process, and ultimately advances the state of intelligence in CAD systems.