ABSTRACT
This chapter concentrates on the quasi-static behavior of compliant mechanisms that are formed of flexible hinges or chains connected in parallel. It analyzes different loading, boundary conditions and symmetry configurations. The chapter utilizes the compliance matrix approach to connect loads to displacements for a variety of planar parallel flexible-hinge mechanisms that can formally be placed in two categories: in the first category, there is a single load acting on the rigid link, which is common to all flexible chains that are connected to it; the second category comprises mechanisms with multiple loads acting on both the common rigid link and some of the component flexible chains. Several parallel-connection planar mechanisms are composed of two identical, straight-axis and collinear flexible portions that are symmetric with respect to the connecting rigid link. The flexible chains can be formed of flexible hinges and rigid links or solely of flexible hinges.
