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ENGR 220 Project 2

Kinematics and Kinetics of a Slider-Crank Mechanism

Joseph Amodemo
29 November 2017
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Introduction:
In this project I modeled a slider-crank in MATLAB to determine various velocities,
accelerations, and forces in the system. The constant angular velocity of A as well as the
lengths and masses of links AB, BP, and P are given. Using the equations of kinematics, I
found the velocities at points B and P; the accelerations at points B, P, and G; the
angular velocity of BP; the angular acceleration of BP; and the forces at B and P.
Methods:
a) vB = {-(rBAy)i + (rBAx)j} m/s
b) aB = {-(2)(rBAx)i (2)(rBAy)j} m/s2
c) vP = {(vBx-BP(rPBy)i} m/s
d) aP = {aBx-aPB(rPBy)-(BP2)(rPBx)i} m/s2
e) BP = {-vBy/rPBxk} rad/s
f) BP = {(-aBy+BP2)(rPBy)/rPBxk} rad/s2
g) aG = {(aBx-BP(rBPy)/2-BP2(rPBx)/2)i + (aBy+PB(rPBx)/2-BP2(rPBy)j} m/s2
h) FB = {(mBP(aGx)-FPx)i + (mBP(aGy)-FPy)j } N
i) FP = {(-mP(aPx)i +
((1/12)(mBP)(lBP2)(aBP)+mBP(aGy)(1/2)(rPBx)-mPB(aGx)(1/2)(rPBy)+FPx(rPBy))/rPBxj} N
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Results:
Velocity vs. Crank Angle

Acceleration vs. Crank Angle

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Angular Velocity vs. Crank Angle

Angular Acceleration vs. Crank Angle

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Force vs. Crank Angle

Conclusion:
My results make sense based on the expected directions of the bars. The magnitude of
the forces and accelerations were surprising because we do not normally experience
forces so large in systems so small. Another surprising feature of this system is that we
did not take gravity into account. This also has to do with the magnitude of the forces in
the system; the force of gravity is so insignificant compared to the other forces present
that it would just been rounded out of the answers anyways. If this system was being
produced, these numbers would be valuable to a material engineer so that they can
select or develop materials that can handle the forces present.