Impact Dynamics Simulation with Restitution (Python)

Simulation Animation

The animation below shows the simulated motion of the pendulum system after the impact event. ![Impact Simulation]

Overview

This project implements a numerical solver and simulation for a pendulum-like rigid body system undergoing an impact event.

The solver computes the system response before and after collision using a coefficient of restitution, and the simulation visualizes the resulting motion.

Objectives

• Model rigid-body impact dynamics
• Implement a restitution-based collision solver
• Analyze angular velocity and angle evolution after impact
• Visualize system behavior through simulation

Engineering Approach

The system dynamics are derived using rigid-body mechanics and conservation laws.

The solver computes:

• angular velocity before impact
• angular velocity after impact
• impulse exchange during collision
• post-impact system evolution

The simulation integrates the system motion and generates plots of the resulting dynamics.

Tools

• Python
• NumPy
• Matplotlib

Repository Structure

impact-dynamics-simulation
│
README.md
demo_run.py
animate_system.py

src

• impact_solver.py
• hw_model1.py
• hw1.vib.py

figures

• e_sweep_omega1_after.png
• e_sweep_phiA.png

Example Results

Angular Velocity After Impact

Impact Angle Response

Running the Simulation

Run the main simulation file:

python demo_run.py

Key Features

• restitution-based impact solver
• numerical dynamic simulation
• visualization of system motion
• analysis of impact response

Author

Marai Abed Alrahman
Mechanical Engineering – Budapest University of Technology and Economics