Effects of transmission element parameters to mechanical characteristics of docking mechanism

Purpose - To provide the basis and rule of theory analysis for the design of transmission parameters of the buffer system of the space docking mechanism. Design/methodology/approach - Setting up the dynamic model of the buffer system of the space docking mechanism by adopting virtual work theory, and analyzing the effects of the transmission parameters of the buffer system to the system dynamic characteristics on the basis of the decouple principle. Findings - The buffer characteristics of the docking mechanism varying with the change of the transmission parameters of the buffer system, and the change of the buffer force characteristics of the translation degree of freedom are more prominent than that of the turning angle degree of freedom; the mechanics characteristics of the buffer system will approximately satisfy the decouple requirement by selecting the appropriate transmission parameters. Research limitations/implications - Only consider the transmission parameters for the transmission elements in the buffer system dynamic model, without considering the mass and inertia parameters. Practical implications - Provides valuable method of parameter design to design the transmission system of the space docking mechanism. Originality/value - Putting forward up the method of approximation to solve the sub- diagonalize matrix of the stiff matrix and the damp matrix, and then determining some main transmission ratio of the system. This method is simple, practical for the system design.