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Mechanical Translational Properties (PB)

Specify gravitational acceleration and rail incline angle for circuit

Since R2024b

  • Mechanical Translational Properties (PB) block

Libraries:
Simscape / Foundation Library / Translational / Utilities

Description

The Mechanical Translational Properties (PB) block specifies the global parameters for all the blocks in the attached circuit, such as the gravitational acceleration and the incline angle. In a position-based translational network, blocks have a fixed orientation aligned with the global positive direction. Imagine all parts assembled on a rail.

Schematic of gravity and incline angle

Incline angle, θ, is the angle between the rail positive direction and the horizontal. The angle is measured counterclockwise from the positive horizontal. The rail positive direction has an upward slope for angles between 0 and 180 degrees and a downward slope for angles between 0 and -180 degrees.

Gravity, g, acts downwards. Depending on the incline angle, gravity can have two components:

  • Parallel component, acting along the rail, g·sin(θ). This is the component that induces motion. Positive g·sin(θ) corresponds to a positive incline angle that induces motion in the negative direction along the rail.

  • Perpendicular component, acting normal to the rail, g·|cos(θ)|. This is the component that induces normal force between the mass and the rail and affects friction.

Here are some examples of rail orientation.

Vertical rail

g = 9.81 m/s^2

θ = 90 deg

Gravity causes mass acceleration in the negative direction

Schematic of vertical rail

Horizontal rail

g = 9.81 m/s^2

θ = 0 deg

Weight increases normal force

Schematic of horizontal rail

Examples

Ports

Conserving

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Position-based mechanical translational conserving port that connects the block to the physical network.

Parameters

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Gravitational acceleration acting on all the blocks in the connected circuit.

Angle between the rail positive direction and the positive horizontal.

Extended Capabilities

C/C++ Code Generation
Generate C and C++ code using Simulink® Coder™.

Version History

Introduced in R2024b