Couplings and Drives

Dynamic transfer of torques and motions

Couplings and drives blocks represent power transmission elements and systems such as springs, dampers, pulleys, and drives. To model the dynamic transfer of torques and motions, connect these blocks together just as you would assemble a physical driveline system.

Simscape Blocks

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Belt DrivePower transmission system with taut belt connecting two pulleys
Belt PulleyPower transmission element with frictional belt wrapped around pulley circumference
Chain DrivePower transmission system with chain and two sprockets
Flexible ShaftShaft with torsional and bending compliance
RodAxially flexible bar or cable
Rope DrumPower transmission system with tightly wound rope around cylindrical drum
Shock AbsorberMechanism for damping translational vibrations
Torque ConverterViscous fluid coupling between rotating driveline shafts
Torsional Spring-DamperRotational spring and damper coupling, with Coulomb friction, locking, and hard stops
Universal JointRotational coupling between two driveline shafts
Variable Ratio TransmissionDynamic gearbox with variable and controllable gear ratio, transmission compliance, and friction losses
Nonlinear Rotational DamperRotational damper based on polynomial or table lookup parameterizations
Nonlinear Rotational SpringTorsional spring based on polynomial or table lookup parameterizations
Nonlinear Translational DamperTranslational damper based on polynomial or table lookup parameterizations
Nonlinear Translational SpringTranslational spring based on polynomial or table lookup parameterizations
Rotational DamperFaultable linear rotational damper
Translational DamperFaultable linear translational damper
Variable Rotational DamperRotational damper with variable damping coefficient
Variable Rotational SpringRotational spring with variable spring stiffness
Variable Translational DamperTranslational viscous damper with variable damping coefficient
Variable Translational SpringTranslational spring with variable spring stiffness

Topics

Model a Variable Inertia

Model a time-varying inertia using a variable ratio transmission.

Model Driveshafts with Loss

Model damping due to viscous friction.

Model Drivetrain Noise

Model random noise in a drivetrain.

Model and Detect Drivetrain Faults

Model faults that disturb drivetrains.

Best Practices for Modeling Pulley Networks

Lean about belt direction and using tensioners and inertias in pulley networks.

Troubleshooting

Troubleshoot Pulley Network Issues

Learn how to solve initialization and motion issues in pulley networks.

Featured Examples

Flexible Shaft

Flexible Shaft

Two flexible aluminum shafts modeled using a lumped parameter approach. Both shafts consist of 20 segments containing inertias, damping, and stiff torsional springs. At the start of the simulation, the clutch is unlocked and the driven shaft is free. Note that the initial velocity of the motor shaft is set to 200 rad/s and that the system starts at steady state. The clutch engages and disengages during the test, and during each event the effect of the shaft flexibility can be seen in the simulation results.

Open Model
Shaft with Torsional and Transverse Flexibility

Shaft with Torsional and Transverse Flexibility

Two flexible shafts that have torsional and transverse flexibility. One shaft computes transverse motion using computed eigenmodes, and the other shaft uses a lumped parameter approach. The boundary conditions on the shafts can be changed on the block masks.

Open Model
Simscape Driveline Documentation
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