Construction of the Equivalent Electric Circuit from a Force Circuit Diagram by a Simple Graphical Method

Abstract

It has been shown elsewhere (Tschoegl1961) that mechanical problems may be formulated by constructing a force (or torque) circuit diagram setting forth the essential characteristics of the mechanical system by a set of conventional symbols. The mechanical problem may then be solved directly by the operational methods used in electric circuit analysis. Similarly, rheological problems may be formulated and solved by the aid of analogous stress circuit diagrams. The solution of mechanical and rheological problems via the equivalent electric circuit is thus completely by-passed. However, the equivalent circuit may still be needed for purposes of simulation. It is the aim of this communication to show how the equivalent electric circuit may be derived from a given force, torque, or stress circuit diagram by a simple graphical method. This is also the simplest way of setting up an equivalent circuit for a given mechanical problem since the force or torque circuit diagram is readily found by inspection.