Applied Mathematics and Mechanics (English Edition) ›› 1998, Vol. 19 ›› Issue (9): 837-842.

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CONNECTIONS AND GEODESIC CHARACTERISTIC OF EQUATIONS OF MOTION FOR CONSTRAINED MECHANICAL SYSTEMS

Luo Shaokai1, Guo Yongxin2, Mei Fengxiang 2   

  1. 1. Shangqiu Teachers College, Shangqiu 476000, P. R. China;
    2. Department of Applied Mechanics, Peking Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, P. R. China
  • Received:1997-02-17 Online:1998-09-18 Published:1998-09-18
  • Supported by:
    Project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation and the Doctoral Programm Foundation of Institute of Higher Education of China

Abstract: The geodesic characteristic of equations of motion for nonautonomous constrainedmechanical systems is studied in the modern setting of global differential geometry. Anecessary and sufficient condition for the dynamical flow of a monautonomous mechanical system with geodesic characteristic was obtained with respect to aconnection on jet bundle. The dynamical flow concerning the non-autonomous casewas always of geodesic characteristic with regard to torsion-free connections. Thus the motion of any nonautonomous mechanical system with constraints can be alwaysrepresented by the motion along the geodesic line of torsion-free connection on 1-jetbundle, which is different from the case in an autonomous mechaincal system.

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