Compliant assembly deviation analysis of large-scale thin-walled structures in different clamping schemes via ANCF

Purpose The structure stiffness is greatly affected by the fixture constraints during assembly due to the flexibility of large-scale thin-walled structures. The compliant deformation of structures is usually not consistent for the non-uniform stiffness in various clamping schemes. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the correlation between the assembly quality and the clamping schemes of structures with various initial deviations and geometrical parameters, which is based on the proposed irregular quadrilateral plate element via absolute nodal coordinate formulation (ANCF). Design/methodology/approach Two typical clamping schemes are specified for the large-scale thin-walled structures. Two typical deviation modes are defined in both free and clamping states in the corresponding clamping schemes. The new irregular quadrilateral plate element via ANCF is validated to analyze the compliant deformation of assembled structures. The quasi-static force equilibrium equations are extended considering the factors of clamping constraints and geometric deviations. Findings The initial deviations and geometrical parameters strongly affect the assembly deviations of structures in two clamping schemes. The variation tendencies of assembly deviations are demonstrated in details with the circumferential clamping position and axial clamping position in two clamping schemes, providing guidance to optimize the fixture configuration. The assembly quality of structures with deviations can be improved by configuration synthesis of the clamping schemes. Originality/value Typical over-constraint clamping schemes and deviation modes in clamping states are defined for large-scale thin-walled structures. The plate element via ANCF is extended to analyze the assembly deviations of thin-walled structures in various clamping schemes. Based on the proposed theoretical model, the effects of clamping schemes and initial deviations on the deformation and assembly deviation propagation of structures are investigated.