This book contains the edited version of the lectures presented at the NATO ASI on computer-aided analysis of rigid and flexible mechanical systems, held in Tróia, Portugal, from June 27--July 9, 1993. The topics presented include formulations and numerical aspects of rigid and flexible multibody dynamics, object-oriented paradigms, optimal design and synthesis, robotics, kinematics, path planning, control, impact dynamics, and aspects of application. The book discusses these topics in a tutorial and review manner, providing a comprehensive summary of current work. It is therefore suitable for a wide range of interests, ranging from advanced students to researchers and implementers.

Preface. Part I: Methods in Rigid Multibody Dynamics. Constrained Multibody Dynamics; R.A. Wehage, M.J. Belczynski. Construction of the Equations of Motion for Multibody Dynamics Using Point and Joint Coordinates; P.E. Nikravesh, H.A. Affifi. Dynamics of Multibody Systems with Minimal Coordinates; M. Hiller, A. Kecskeméthy. Symbolic Computations in Multibody Systems; W. Schiehlen. On-Line Dynamic Analysis of Mechanical Systems; T.R. Kane. Topological Description of Articulated Systems; J. Wittenburg. Part II: Dynamics of Flexible Mechanical Systems. Flexibility in Multibody Dynamics with Applications to Crashworthiness; J.A.C. Ambrósio, M.S. Pereira. Finite Element Modelling Concepts in Multibody Dynamics; M. Géradin, A. Cardona, D.B. Doan, J. Duysens. Kinematic and Dynamic Simulation of Rigid and Flexible Systems with Fully Cartesian Coordinates; J. García de Jalon, J. Cuadrado, A. Avello, J.M. Jiménez. Computer Implementation of Flexible Multibody Equations; A.A. Shabana. Flexibility Effects in Multibody Systems; R.L. Huston, Y. Wang. Part III: Kinematic Aspects of Multibody Systems. On Twist and Wrench Generators and Annihilators; J. Angeles. Application of Computer Aided Kinematics to Modelling of Contacts in Robotic Manipulation; J. de Schutter, H. Bruyninckx, S. Dutré. Part IV: Computational Issues and Numerical Methods. Reduction of Multibody Simulation Time by Appropriate Formulation of Dynamical System Equations; R. Schwertassek. Computational Challenges in Mechanical Systems Simulation; L.R. Petzold. Numerical Integration of Second Order Differential-Algebraic Systems in Flexible Mechanism Dynamics; A. Cardona, M. Géradin. Part V: Man/Machine Interaction and Virtual Prototyping. Dynamic Simulation for Vehicle Virtual Prototyping; J.S. Freeman, E.J. Haug, J.G. Kuhl, F.F. Tsai. Man/Machine Interaction Dynamics and Performance Analysis, Biomechanics and NDISCOS Multibody Equations; H.P. Frish. Index.