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Connection Types

The ADAMS/Car model uses idealized joints and bushing for connections. Idealized joints are

rigid joints with specified degrees of freedom. Bushings allow for a connection to flex and have

a property file containing stiffness properties.

ADAMS/Car has several joints that are used to model rigid connections between parts. The

following table from the help file lists the types of joint available and the degrees of freedom.

This table can be found in the help file at:

ADAMS/Car>Working with Components>Attachments>Joints

Joint name: Number of

DOF:

Type of motion DOFs allow:

Translational 1 Translation of one part with respect to another while all axes are co-directed.

Revolute 1 Rotation of one part with respect to another along a common axis.

Cylindrical 2 Translation and rotation of one part with respect to another.

Spherical 3 Three rotations of one part with respect to the other while keeping two points, one on

each part, coincident.

Planar 3 The x-y plane of one part slides with respect to another.

Fixed 0 No motion of any part with respect to another.

Inline 4 One translational and three rotational motions of one part with respect to another.

Inplane 5 Two translational and three rotational motions of one part with respect to another.

Orientation 3 Constrains the orientation of one part with respect to the orientation of another one,

leaving the translational degrees of freedom free.

Parallel_axes 4 Three translational and one rotational motions of one part with respect to another.

Perpendicular 5 Three translational and two rotational motions of one part with respect to another.

Convel 2 Two rotations of one part with respect to the other while remaining coincident and

maintaining a constant velocity through the spin axes.

Hooke 2 Two rotations of one part with respect to the other while remaining coincident.

Warning: Remember to change your working directory before you begin this lesson. If you do not,

Adams may not work correctly. Also remember to move everything you wish to keep from the working

directory before you log off. See the Opening Files tutorial for more information.

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To see the connection types found in a model use the Highlight Connectivity tool. This allows

you to view the connections in the database navigator and see the connection type. When a

connection is selected ADAMS/Car highlights the two parts connected. To use click

Tools>Highlight Connectivity.

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When the Highlight Connectivity window appears select the connection type from the drop down

menu. Double click the empty box next to the connection type to bring up the Database

Navigator. In the case below the Joint connection type is selected.

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In the Database Navigator double click next to the subsystem to expand and see the joints and

types. Below the FSAE model front suspension is expanded. The names on the left are the joint

names in the subsystem. To the right are the joint types for that name. Notice the outer pushrod

connection is a Spherical Joint and the pushrod connection to the bellcrank is a Hooke Joint.

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Bushings are used to provide a connection with six degrees of freedom allowing transmission of

forces and moments. It is essentially a three-dimensional spring damper. Information found in

the bushing property file specifies the stiffness and dampening of the bushing. On the FSAE and

Mini-Baja models bushings are found at the inboard control arm connections. When you modify

the inboard hardpoints for a control arm the bushings automatically align to prevent the control

arm from binding. For demonstration the front lower control arm below was angled in the

plane by lowering the front connection and raising the rear. After modifying the bushings

aligned to allow for smooth motion.

Lowered

Bushing

Raised

Bushing

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To modify bushings right click on the bushing and select Bushing:>Modify.

Click the graph icon to view the property file in the Curve Manager.

Click to view the property file in the curve manager

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The translational stiffnesses are shown by default. To view the rotational stiffnesses select the

dropdown menu under the main menu. Dampening values are found on the bottom left. The

curves can be modified by dragging points on the curve.

To edit the curve in tabular from click View, Table.

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Warning: Remember to change your working directory before you begin this lesson. If you do not,

Adams may not work correctly. Also remember to move everything you wish to keep from the working

directory before you log off. See the Opening Files tutorial for more information.