Multibody dynamic study and optimization for a flexible support shaft system in unmanned underwater vehicle

This paper presented a multibody dynamic model for the shaft system in an unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV), the model considers the flexible coupling, ball bearing and flexible support. The stiffness characteristics of flexible coupling are calculated by using the finite-element analysis. The effects of load condition, bearing location and support stiffness on shaft vibrations are investigated. Then, an optimization for the bearing locations and support stiffness is conducted. This study provides some guidance for the design and vibration optimization of the shaft system in UUVs.