Stability region of floating intermediate support in a shaft system with multiple universal joints

A floating intermediate support is designed to reduce kinematic and dynamic fluctuations caused by the change of joint angles in a shaft system with multiple universal joints. The dynamic equation of the shaft system is derived via the principle of virtual work, which suggests the angular displacement of the input shaft is the only independent variable. A drive shaft system used in an articulated dump truck is taken as an example to analyze the sensitivities of shaft speed and input torque of the system about structural parameters and system variables, which proves the effectiveness of floating support to attenuate the kinematic and dynamic fluctuations of the shaft system. The stability region of floating support aimed at shaft speed and input torque of the system keeping relatively stable is obtained by setting proper upper limits of objectives, and the analysis results are verified by dynamic simulation in MapleSim platform, which is helpful to decide proper stiffness and damping or determine an optimum control strategy for floating angle of support in design.