ABSTRACT
This chapter explores the multibody dynamics theories and identifies new governing equations of motion when the boundary conditions are time variant. The contact phenomenon basically takes place on the surface of the bodies and hence depends on the peripheral profiles and contours, which are of varied nature in components of real engineering mechanical systems. In order to demonstrate this particular phenomenon of handling of constraints, as a result of surface contact between flexible bodies undergoing large displacements, numerical simulations are given. Three-dimensional isoparametric elements with three rotational and three translational degrees of freedom have been incorporated in the procedure developed. The versatility of the elements makes it possible to discretize intricate geometries. The constraint conditions are imposed on the peripheral nodal points, which are subsequently switched with time, based on the prescribed rigid body displacement of the bodies. A simple example of a moving wheel on a stationary track is studied under two different track support conditions.
