Kyung S.J. Application of B-splines to the optimization of mechanisms

Ann Arbor: UMI, 1991. — 162 p.A strategy has been developed for the optimization of mechanisms using Bsplines without perturbing a desired output function by more than a prescribed tolerance. Because of its global smoothness and flexibility, the B-spline is a powerful and convenient design tool. The properties of B-spines have been studied and applied to mechanical design. The special properties of B-splines enables the formulation of an optimization program with the B-spline coefficients as variables.
This discrete approach makes the optimization procedure simple and fast.
In addition, a systematic approach to the design and analysis of direct-contact mechanisms using the theory of envelopes and instant centers has been presented.
The techniques presented in the the dissertation yields the design equations in parametric forms.