MBS Benchmark A01: Simple Pendulum

Benchmark Objective

The A01 MBS benchmark problem is a simple planar pendulum. It is proposed as a demonstration example.

Benchmark Description

The Simple Pendulum is a planar mechanism composed of a point mass that is linked to the ground through a rigid massless bar.

{Simple Pendulum sketch.

The following table reports the system configuration: the only force applied to the mechanism is the gravity.

System Properties and Configuration
\(P_1\) mass 1.0 Kg
Bar length 1.0 m
Bar mass 0.0 Kg
\({\theta}(0)\) \({\pi}\) rad
\(\dot{\theta}(0)\) 0.0 rad/s

Results

The dynamic simulation of the A01 benchmark was executed for 10s. In the initial position, the system is horizontal with \(P_1\) x-coordinate equals to -1.0 m and y-coordinate equals to 0.0 m. The first figure shows the variation of mechanical energy in the system, defined as sum of potential and kinetic energy, from the initial condition. Since no dissipation is present in the problem, variation should be zero. The second figure, instead, compares the outputs of the OpenSim-based simulation with the benchmark references available from [GDLC06].

Mechanical variation during simulation period from the initial condition. Ideal variation (black line) and simulated value (blue line)

Figure 2: Mechanical variation during simulation period from the initial condition. Theoretical variation (black line) and simulated one (blue line).

P1 coordinate displacements in OpenSim simulation (dashed lines) and MBS benchmark reference (gray dots).

Figure 3: Displacement of reference point \(P_1\) in OpenSim simulation (colored lines) and MBS benchmark reference (black dashed lines).

Computational Performances

To compute the simulation the developed implementation required 0.637 seconds.

Results obtained using an Intel Core i5-4570 @ 3.2 GHz computer running Windows 8.1 64-bit. OpenSim official release used: 3.2.

Comparision with other dynamic engines has been conducted submitting the obtained results to the benchmark collaborative library. Click here to see the comparison results.

Videos

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