This presentation, delivered by Ecda Erol from the Haptics & Robotics Lab at Boğaziçi University's Department of Mechanical Engineering, offers an exploration of Adams—Automated Dynamic Analysis of Mechanical Systems. As a leading Multibody Dynamics (MBD) software, Adams enables engineers and researchers to study the dynamics of moving parts and analyze force distribution across mechanical systems effectively. The presentation covers a range of topics, including the software's core features, simulation examples from various fields like vehicle drive performance and agricultural machinery, and the specific advantages of using Adams for system-level simulation and dynamic load prediction. Additionally, it discusses the limitations of the student edition, the software's compatibility with platforms like Linux and Windows, and its integration capabilities with MATLAB/Simulink for enhanced control system simulations. Through detailed examples, including a spring mass damper system demo, the presentation demonstrates how Adams facilitates more accurate and efficient designs, saving both time and resources in the development of mechanical systems.

1. Adams
The Multibody Dynamics Simulation Solution
Applications in Robotics
Ecda Erol
Haptics & Robotics Lab
Boğaziçi University
Department of Mechanical Engineering

2. Presentation Outline
• What is Adams?
• Simulation Examples
• Fields of Usage
• Advantages & Disadvantages of Adams
• Restrictions in Free Edition
• Examples of simulations from our project (Demo)
• How to build a system in Adams (Demo)

3. What is Adams?
• Automated Dynamic Analysis of Mechanical Systems
• Multibody Dynamics Software (MBD)
• Usage: -Study of moving part’s dynamics
-Observation of the distribution of forces through mechanical
system
• Numerical Solvers: Fortran (Formula Translation) & C++
• Compatible with Linux and Microsoft Windows
• A free student edition is available (limitations exist)

4. Simulation Examples
Figure 1. Car drive simulation. Adapt. from [1] Figure 2. Beam under oscillating force. Adapt. from [1]
Figure 3. Piston cylinder system simulation. Adapt. from [1] Figure 4. Landing gear system simulation. Adapt. from [1]

5. Fields of Usage
• Landing systems of aircrafts
• Agricultural machinery
• Escalator systems
• Crane systems
• Gear train mechanisms
• Vehicle drive performance
• Roll-over predictions of cars
Figure 5. Gear-train mechanism. Adapt. From [2]
Figure 6. Car drive simulation and its results. Adapt.
from [2]

6. Advantages of
Adams
• System level simulation (noise effect,
interaction of components etc.)
• Accurate dynamic load predictions
(especially useful for complex systems)
• Flexible bodies are applicable (not only
rigid body simulation)
• Control system integration
(Matlab/Simulink, EASY5)
• More accurate designs are possible
• Compatibility with Nastran
• Money & time saving
Figure 7. Adams Machinery Belt discretized usage. Adapt.
From [2]
Figure 8. A flexible body example. Adapt. From [2]

7. Disadvantages
• Student edition is too limited
• Open source information is too
limited
• Free learning materials are not
available
• Difficulties in usage for small
scale simulations
• Drawing tools
• User interface
Figure 9. Illustration of complicated coordinate systems in a model.

8. Restrictions in Education Version
• No more than 20 bodies, including
ground
• Less than or equal to 1000 geometry
curves
• No more than 500 surfaces
• No more than 100 solids
• The sum of all flexible bodies’ nodes
must be no more than 5000 nodes
• Adams Machinery Belt discretized
methods
• Adams Machinery Cable discretized
method
• Adams Machinery Chain [3]
Limitations Impractical

11. How to use it?
• For illustration, a spring mass damper
system is going to be shown. The spring
mass damper system can be represented as
in figure.
𝑚: 𝑚𝑎𝑠𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑜𝑏𝑗𝑒𝑐𝑡
𝑘: 𝑠𝑡𝑖𝑓𝑓𝑛𝑒𝑠𝑠 𝑐𝑜𝑒𝑓𝑓𝑖𝑐𝑖𝑒𝑛𝑡
𝑐: 𝑑𝑎𝑚𝑝𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑐𝑜𝑒𝑓𝑓𝑖𝑐𝑖𝑒𝑛𝑡
𝐹 𝑡 : 𝑎𝑝𝑝𝑙𝑖𝑒𝑑 𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑐𝑒
Figure 8. Representation of
spring mass damper system.
Adapt. from [4].

13. References
1. MSC Software Corp., Adams,
http://www.mscsoftware.com/product/adams, accessed on
22.04.2018.
2. MSC Software, Top 10 Reasons to Start Using Adams,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jvehWzfk52I, accessed on
22.04.2018.
3. MSC Software Corp., Release Notes on Adams 2018.0 Student
Edition, 2018.
4. Chegg.com, http://www.chegg.com/homework-help/questions-and-
answers/problem-consider-spring-mass-damper-system-shown-k-
30-kn-m-m-150-kg-c-15-kns-m-f-t-harmoni-q9173949, accessed on
23.04.2018.

14. Q&A