Efficient High‐Fidelity Simulation of Multibody Systems with Composite Dimensionally Reducible Components

A new concept is introduced for simulating multibody systems with composite dimensionally reducible components using efficient high‐fidelity models of VABS and VAPAS, which are constructed using the variational asymptotic method. A systematic theoretical framework is given to connect these efficient high‐fidelity models with multibody simulation codes. Several examples including buckling/postbuckling, free/forced vibrations, and simple multibody systems are used to demonstrate the connection between DYMORE and VABS/VAPAS. It is shown that various types of analyses can be handled using the same approach, and that the same structure can be analyzed using different models based on required accuracy and efficiency. It is shown that effects of boundary conditions should be carefully examined when comparing different models. It is concluded that realistic engineering systems involving composite components can be authentically, yet efficiently, simulated using flexible multibody codes along with the efficient high‐fidelity models provided in VABS and VAPAS.