Force Analysis of Mechanisms

In Chap. 2 , kinematic analysis for various mechanisms was discussed, without paying any attention to the forces and moments that are responsible to their motion. Kinematic analysis will help determine the dimensions of various links of the mechanism, in addition to giving an idea of velocity and acceleration of various links. However, it is important to determine the forces and moments responsible for the motion of these mechanisms under the action of load. In addition, force analysis is important in determining the power of prime movers that are required for running the mechanisms without much variations in the speed and to account for the forces transmitted to the machine foundation. In addition, the reaction forces are also important in ensuring the satisfactory functioning of the mechanism as they relate to the forces acting on individual elements. Mechanisms transmit forces to the foundation on which they are mounted that will result in vibration that can be transmitted to other parts of the machine. It is possible to control the resulting vibration by proper balancing of the mechanism that will be discussed in Chap. 9 ; the present chapter provides the basis for such balancing mechanisms.