Determination of mechanism’s order for kinematically and statically indetermined systems

bstract This paper deals with the mechanisms in kinematically and statically indeterminate reticulated systems. Knowledge of length variation amplitude for members in association with an assigned mechanism allows determination of mechanism order. This is a fundamental characteristic of these systems, mainly for stability considerations. We submit on one part, simple tests allowing distinction between ``order one mechanismsʹʹ and mechanisms of higher order, and on the other part an algorithm giving access to order exact value for all mechanisms associated with a given reticulated system. With this algorithm, order one mechanisms and higher order mechanisms are identi®ed. Simple examples are given in the text and illustrate these aspects. In conclusion, we submit a stop criterion for the algorithm which gives access to the ®nite mechanisms for most of constructive reticulated systems.