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Rotational system θ/T and T-I analogy

Short answer

Introduce angles θ₁, θ₃, θ, write three equations, eliminate θ₁ and θ₃ to find θ(s)/T(s) = k₂(b₁s+k₁)/Δ, where Δ = J₁J₂(b₁+b₂)s⁵+[J₁J₂(k₁+k₂)+J₂b₁b₂]s⁴+[(J₁+J₂)b₁k₂+J₁b₂k₂+J₂b₂k₁]s³+[(J₁+J₂)k₁k₂+b₁b₂k₂]s²+b₂k₁k₂s. T–I analogy: T→i, J→C, b→1/R, k→1/L; circuit: C₁=J₁, C₂=J₂, L₁∥R₁ between nodes v₁ and v₃, L₂ from v₃ to v₂, R₂ from v₃ to ground.

Find the transfer function θ(s)/T(s) for the mechanical rotational system shown below. Also develop T-I analogous circuit. [Figure: torque T(t) applied to inertia J1; J1 coupled through torsional spring k1 in parallel with damper b1 to a shaft point, which has viscous damper b2 to the fixed frame; that point is coupled through torsional spring k2 to inertia J2, whose angle is θ(t)]

Let θ1\theta_1 = angle of J1J_1, θ3\theta_3 = angle of the massless shaft point (where b2b_2 is attached) and θ\theta = angle of J2J_2. Bearings of J1J_1, J2J_2 are taken as frictionless (only the shown elements act).

Differential equations (Laplace form)

J1s2θ1+(b1s+k1)(θ1−θ3)=T(b1s+k1)(θ3−θ1)+b2s θ3+k2(θ3−θ)=0J2s2θ+k2(θ−θ3)=0\begin{aligned} J_1s^2\theta_1 + (b_1s + k_1)(\theta_1 - \theta_3) &= T \\ (b_1s + k_1)(\theta_3 - \theta_1) + b_2s\,\theta_3 + k_2(\theta_3 - \theta) &= 0 \\ J_2s^2\theta + k_2(\theta - \theta_3) &= 0 \end{aligned}

In matrix form:

[J1s2+b1s+k1−(b1s+k1)0−(b1s+k1)(b1+b2)s+k1+k2−k20−k2J2s2+k2][θ1θ3θ]=[T00]\begin{bmatrix} J_1s^2 + b_1s + k_1 & -(b_1s+k_1) & 0 \\ -(b_1s+k_1) & (b_1+b_2)s + k_1 + k_2 & -k_2 \\ 0 & -k_2 & J_2s^2 + k_2 \end{bmatrix} \begin{bmatrix}\theta_1\\ \theta_3\\ \theta\end{bmatrix} = \begin{bmatrix}T\\0\\0\end{bmatrix}

Transfer function

By Cramer's rule, the numerator for θ\theta is the product of the off-diagonal couplings, (b1s+k1)k2(b_1s+k_1)k_2:

θ(s)T(s)=k2(b1s+k1)Δ\frac{\theta(s)}{T(s)} = \frac{k_2(b_1s + k_1)}{\Delta}

where

Δ=(J1s2+b1s+k1){[(b1+b2)s+k1+k2](J2s2+k2)−k22}−(b1s+k1)2(J2s2+k2)\Delta = (J_1s^2 + b_1s + k_1)\left\{\left[(b_1+b_2)s + k_1 + k_2\right](J_2s^2 + k_2) - k_2^2\right\} - (b_1s + k_1)^2(J_2s^2 + k_2)

Expanded:

Δ=  J1J2(b1+b2)s5+[J1J2(k1+k2)+J2b1b2]s4+[(J1+J2)b1k2+J1b2k2+J2b2k1]s3+[(J1+J2)k1k2+b1b2k2]s2+b2k1k2 s\begin{aligned} \Delta =\; & J_1J_2(b_1 + b_2)s^5 + \left[J_1J_2(k_1 + k_2) + J_2b_1b_2\right]s^4 \\ & + \left[(J_1 + J_2)b_1k_2 + J_1b_2k_2 + J_2b_2k_1\right]s^3 \\ & + \left[(J_1 + J_2)k_1k_2 + b_1b_2k_2\right]s^2 + b_2k_1k_2\,s \end{aligned}

The factor ss in Δ\Delta shows a free integration: nothing ties the system to the frame by a spring.

T-I analogy

Torque →\to current, J→CJ \to C, b→1/Rb \to 1/R, k→1/Lk \to 1/L, angular velocity ω→\omega \to node voltage.

MechanicalElectrical
TTcurrent source ii
J1J_1, J2J_2C1=J1C_1 = J_1, C2=J2C_2 = J_2
b1b_1, b2b_2R1=1/b1R_1 = 1/b_1, R2=1/b2R_2 = 1/b_2
k1k_1, k2k_2L1=1/k1L_1 = 1/k_1, L2=1/k2L_2 = 1/k_2
ω1,ω3,ω\omega_1, \omega_3, \omegav1,v3,v2v_1, v_3, v_2
 v1         L1∥R1      v3  L2   v2
 +----+---+--LLLL--+---+--LLLL--+
 |    |   +-/\/\/--+   |        |
(i)   C1               R2       C2
 |    |                |        |
 +----+----------------+--------+ gnd

(L1L_1 and R1R_1 are in parallel between nodes 1 and 3.)

✓ Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort)

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