The method of analyzing flexible mechanisms with clearances was studied considering flexibility of links in the mechanism using finite elements. The ends of a link were modeled as free-free basing on Dubowsky's impact pair model and nonexistence of geometric constraints at the ends of a link. Instead, force constraints were imposed at connections between adjoining links.
Coulomb model has been developed using dry frictions in place of tangential damping forces in the impact pair model and the contact compliance and damping coefficient approximated by a form of the root function were used.
As examples, impacts of a rigid ball in a cylinder, impact beam model and four-bar mechanisms made up of three flexible links with clearnce connections were simulated numerically.
The results from examples showed similar but a little bit smaller magnitude of impact forces compared with published studies and revealed the importance of axial flexibility in two dimensional clearance problems.
