The virtual-link enhanced al-Yaseer : a mechanism analysis package for the undergraduate classroom

Abstract EN

The magnitude of repetitive work involved in design and analysis is cited, and it is pointed out that much of this pedagogically irrelevant labour can be assigned to the computer.

AI-Yaseer, a mechanism analysis software package that was developed at King Abdulaziz University (KAU) specifically for undergraduate teaching, is briefly reviewed.

The concept of a virtual link as an aid in mechanism analysis is reiterated.

Kinematic relationships are derived for the first inversion of the slidercrank mechanism, such that it features a flexible crank.

The utility of the concept of a virtual flexible link in enhancing the domain of applicability of AI-Yaseer to a variety of realistic problems in the kinematic as well as the dynamic analysis of mechanisms is demonstrated.

Several examples, involving the slider-crank mechanism and its inversions as well as the four bar linkage, are fully worked out.

It is concluded that, bolstered with the concept of a virtual flexible link, AI-Yaseer assumes the role of a modest and yet powerful tool for students and practicing engineers alike in reducing the formidable amount of analysis and design labor to a few input and equivalency statements.

It is asserted that, machine cycle analyses hitherto not possible within the framework of a reasonable number of tutorial periods, can now be successfully undertaken during one period; thus enabling suitable interpretation and decision making.