Reliability-based robust design for kinematic accuracy of a mechanism with axiomatic theory

In this paper, a reliability-based robust design approach was proposed on the basis of axiomatic theory, aiming at actualizing a reliability-based robust design framework for mechanism motion. First, reliability constraint functions of the motion output error of mechanisms were established by using cumulative distribution method after an accuracy analysis of mechanism motion. Second, the number of effective design parameters was equated to the number of functional requirements by classifying design parameters using sensitivity analysis or constructing additional objective functions based on axiomatic theory, and then the independence axiom was satisfied by establishing objective functions according to regularity and the semangularity. Third, a reliability-based robust design model of mechanisms was established based on the axiomatic theory according to the above objective functions and constraint functions. Taking a planar four bar linkage as an example, a reliability-based robust design was achieved with the optimization and symbol toolbox in MATLAB. Meanwhile, correctness and effectiveness of the proposed method was verified under the condition that the first and second moments of basic random parameters were available. Finally, the method proposed in this paper was applied to the reliability-based robust design of an initiative lock mechanism in space docking latch system.