Statics Analysis and Optimization Design for a Fixed-Guided Beam Flexure

Abstract

The ratchet mechanism has been used to ensure moving in one direction of rotation, i.e. either clockwise or counterclockwise. This mechanism is designed based on fixed-guided beam flexures to reduce friction and improves accuracy compared to the traditional mechanism. This paper presents a static analysis and parameter optimization for the fixed-guided beam flexures via using the pseudo-rigid-body model and a fmincon algorithm. The Finite Element Method (FEM) of the fixed-guided beam also has been used to verify the maximum stress and the x-direction displacement. Modified pseudorigid-body model (M-PRBM) is also applied to significantly enhance the accuracy of the maximum stress value. The results show that the averaged errors of maximum stress between MPRBM and FEM are 3.48% for aluminum, and less than 10.9% for titanium, carbon steel, and alloy steel. From the obtained results, the MPRBM is good for prototype design and fabrication of the ratchet mechanism in the future.
 

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