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Course Description
How do machines move? What keeps them balanced? Why do they sometimes fail under motion?
Machine Dynamics (MD) answers these questions by diving deep into the mechanics behind moving systems. From analyzing the motion of linkages in a robotic arm to understanding the forces acting on a spinning rotor, this course brings engineering theory to life, literally.
You'll start by building a strong foundation in kinematics : how mechanisms are structured, how they move, and how to simulate that motion. Then, we'll shift into dynamics, looking at the forces that drive motion, create vibrations, and affect machine stability. Along the way, you'll explore real-world systems like gears, cams, brakes, couplings, and balancing of rotating machinery.
This course doesn't just teach you formulas. It trains you to think like a mechanical systems engineer, with heavy emphasis on both analytical understanding and software-based simulation .
Whether you're aiming to work in robotics, automotive systems, aerospace, or mechanical design, Machine Dynamics equips you with the tools to design, analyze, and improve complex mechanical systems.
What You'll Learn
1. Mechanisms and Motion
Types of joints and links
Kinematic chains and degrees of freedom
Four-bar linkages, Grashof's & Grübler's laws
Mechanism inversion and classification
Software simulation of mechanical linkages
2. Velocity & Acceleration in Mechanisms
Vector diagrams and relative motion
Instantaneous centers
Coriolis acceleration and acceleration polygons
Software-based motion analysis
3. Power Transmission
Belts, ropes, chains, brakes, and clutches
Force and torque analysis
Analytical models and software implementation
4. Cams and Followers
Cam design and profile generation
Knife-edge, roller, and flat followers
Motion laws, pressure angles, undercutting
Software-driven cam synthesis
5. Force Analysis
Free-body diagrams and equilibrium
Static and dynamic loading on mechanisms
Principle of superposition
Simulation-based force analysis
6. Balancing of Machinery
Balancing of rotating and reciprocating parts
Primary and secondary forces in engines
Methods for static and dynamic balancing
Flexible rotors and real-machine balancing
7. Gyroscopic and Precessional Motion
Gyroscopic effects in vehicles and aircraft
Stability analysis of two- and four-wheelers
Gyroscopic torque and precession in rotors
8. Gear Trains
Track, bevel, planetary, and epicyclic gears
Transmission ratios and torque paths
Compound and multi-input gear systems
Software-based gear motion simulation
9. Kinematic Synthesis
Mobility analysis
Transmission angles and dead points
Graphical and analytical synthesis methods
Design of mechanisms using relative pole method
10. Vibrations and Oscillations
Free and forced vibrations
Natural frequency and resonance
Equivalent spring-mass systems
Critical speeds and damping analysis
Hands-on Learning with SolidWorks and SAM
As part of the Problem-Based Learning (PBL) module, students participated in dedicated sessions using SolidWorks and Artas SAM. In the SolidWorks session, various real-world mechanisms such as four-bar linkages, cam-follower systems, and belt drives were modeled and animated to visualize motion and constraints. Following that, the SAM (Synthesis and Analysis of Mechanisms) session focused on dynamic analysis, where students explored velocity, acceleration, and force behavior in complex linkages. These sessions bridged theory and practice, enabling students to simulate, analyze, and iterate on their designs using industry-standard tools.
TU Hamburg
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