Comparison of Single-Notch Circular Flexure Hinge Rotational Stiffness Equations with FEA Results and Derivation of Empirical Formulations

This paper presents the comparison of two different rotational stiffness equations of single-notch circular flexure hinge with FEA results. The errors of these equations increase with t/r ratios (r is the radius and t is the thickness of the hinge). In order to develop accuracy rotational stiffness equation for 0.04lest/rles0.8, a simple empirical equation is formulated based on FEA results with errors less than 1.5%.