Reliability analysis of radially retractable roofs with revolute joint clearances

Abstract Rectractable roofs commonly encounter a motion deviation due to the implementation of revolute joints clearances. This paper presents the reliability analysis of a Hoberman radial linkage mechanism with multi-loops. The effective length model is employed, and the effect of revolute joint clearance is reflected in the link length deviation. The loop incremental method is introduced and modified to analyze the position deviation of the multi-loops linkage mechanism. And reliability evaluation models are established based on the probability density functions. A case study is performed on the simple radially retractable mechanism. Position sensitivity, deviation and reliability of target nodes of the retractable roof are obtained for the development process. Moreover, a parametric analysis is carried out to investigate the effect of the calculation path, the link length, the number of circular links, and the folding number of links. The principle in this work can be used to guide the reliability evaluation and optimal design of radially retractable roof systems.