Explicit Poincaré equations of motion for general constrained systems. Part I. Analytical results

Abstract

This paper gives the general constrained Poincaré equations of motion for mechanical systems subjected to holonomic and/or nonholonomic constraints that may or may not satisfy d'Alembert's principle at each instant of time. It also extends Gauss's principle of least constraint to include quasi-accelerations when the constraints are ideal, thereby expanding the compass of this principle considerably. The new equations provide deeper insights into the dynamics of multi-body systems and point to new ways for controlling them.