Impact of a Kinematic Link with MATLAB and SolidWorks

The elastic impact of a free kinematic link with a surface is studied using MATLAB and SolidWorks. The differential equations of motion are developed using an elastic nonlinear contact force and a frictional force. The nonlinear equations of motion are written in an external m-file and are solved using numerical techniques. The results are checked using a simulation in SolidWorks. For the SolidWorks simulation a specific force is defined for the the elastic impact. The numerical results are obtained with the two methods are compared. The vertical elastic displacement during impact has lower values less for the frictional case.