Using the Chain Drive node in the Multibody Dynamics interface, you can model a roller chain sprocket assembly in 2D or 3D. The Chain Drive node determines the interaction of the chain drive assembly, and automatically generates a set of physics nodes that are used to describe its behavior.

All the above selection inputs may not always be available. Depending on the type of modeling and other input parameters, some selection inputs may not be required. Selection inputs that are not required are hidden in the settings window of the Chain Drive node. For example, if you choose not to model the elastic bushings in a chain link, the Domain Selection, Bushing selection input does not appear in the Chain Drive node. Details about each of these selection inputs are given below.

This is a domain selection input used to create a Rigid Domain node on each link plate of the chain. If you use a geometry from the COMSOL Part Library, a built-in domain selection named Links is automatically selected. If you are using your own geometry, you need to input a domain selection containing all link plates. This selection input is available only when the chain links are modeled as rigid bodies.

This is a domain selection input used to create a Rigid Domain node on each sprocket. If you use a geometry from the COMSOL Part Library, a built-in domain selection named Sprockets is automatically selected. If you are using your own geometry, you need to input a domain selection containing both sprockets domains. This selection input is available only when the sprockets are modeled as rigid bodies.

If you choose to model the chain links as rigid bodies with elastic bushings inside, this selection input is required. The input needed here is a domain selection containing all bushing domains. Using this input, the Chain Drive node automatically creates a Linear Elastic Material node on all bushing domains. If you use a geometry from the COMSOL Part Library, a built-in domain selection named Bushings is automatically selected. If you are using your own geometry, you need to input a domain selection containing all bushings domains. This selection input is available only when the chain links are modeled as rigid bodies with elastic bushings.

This input is a boundary selection used to create Attachment nodes on each pin plate of the chain. For 3D models created using the COMSOL Part Library, a built-in boundary selection named Pin Outer Boundaries is automatically selected. If you use your own geometry, you need to input a boundary selection containing the outer cylindrical surfaces of all pin plates.

For 2D models created from the COMSOL Part Library, a selection named Pin Inner Boundaries is automatically selected. If you use your own geometry, you need to input a boundary selection containing the inner boundaries of all pin plates.

This input is a boundary selection used to create Attachment nodes on each roller plate of the chain. For models built using a geometry from the COMSOL Part Library, a built-in boundary selection named Roller Inner Boundaries is automatically selected. If you use your own geometry, you need to input a boundary selection containing the inner cylindrical surfaces of all roller plates.

This input is a boundary selection used to model contact between the chain and the outer boundaries of the sprockets. If the contact method is mesh based, this selection is used for creating a Contact Pair between the roller plates and the sprockets. For models built using a geometry from the COMSOL Part Library, a built-in boundary selection named Roller Outer Boundaries is automatically selected. If you use your own geometry, you need to input a boundary selection containing the outer cylindrical surfaces of all roller plates.

This boundary selection input is used to model contact between the chain and the outer boundaries of the sprockets. If the contact method is mesh based, this selection is used for creating a Contact Pair between the roller plates and the sprockets. For models built using a geometry from the COMSOL Part Library, a built-in boundary selection named Sprocket Outer Boundaries is automatically selected. If you use your own geometry, you need to input a boundary selection containing the outer surfaces of the sprockets.

This boundary selection input is used to create an Attachment and a Hinge Joint on each sprocket. These can be used to model the mounting the chain drive system to external components such as shafts. For models built using a geometry from the COMSOL Part Library, a built-in boundary selection named Sprocket Inner Boundaries is automatically selected. If you use your own geometry, you need to input a boundary selection containing the inner surfaces of both sprockets.

Using Chain Drive node, you can either model the chain links as rigid or elastic bodies. If the link plates are assumed rigid, the Chain Drive automatically creates a Rigid Domain node for each link plate, see Domain Selection, Link. It is also possible to model a chain with elastic bushings present between rigid link plates, see Domain Selection, Bushing.

By default, the joints are assumed rigid, and the source and destination attachments are then rigidly connected in the directions in which the relative motion is restricted. However, it is possible to insert an elastic connection between attachment surfaces by setting Joint Type to Elastic in the Chain Drive node. This automatically sets all Hinge Joint nodes to be elastic. From the Chain Drive node, you can also control the viscous damping properties of each Hinge Joint in order to model losses, by activating rotational damping and setting a value for the damping coefficient c.