Computer Simulation of Stick-Slip Friction in Mechanical Dynamic Systems

Stick-slip friction is present to some degree in almost all actuators and mechanisms and is often responsible for performance limitations. Simulation of stick-slip friction is difficult because of strongly nonlinear behavior in the vicinity of zero velocity. A straightforward method for representing and simulating friction effects is presented. True zero velocity sticking is represented without equation reformulation or the introduction of numerical stiffness problems.