[Math] Solving Trapezoidal Motion Profile with known values Time, Distance, Accel, Decel (B,SlopeA/D, Area)

areageometry

Trapezoidal Motion Profile

I'm working on equations used to solve non standard motion profiles with limited known values. In this example, I'm having trouble solving equations where acceleration and deceleration is different. It's really just calculating trapezoidal value unknowns.
Given:
Total Distance (Area)
Total Time (Base Length)
Acceleration (Slope of Accel Triangle)
Deceleration (Slope of Decel Triangle)
Calculate:
Vmax (Height)
T1 – Accel Time
T2 – Constant Velocity Time (Top Length)
T3 – Decel Time

I'm working on problems that require different acceleration and deceleration rates and I would like to understand the mathematics behind solving the issue with only known values. I have a software that will calculate the outputs but don't know quite how the math works.
For Example (Known Values):
Total Distance = 1000 units
Total Time = 4 sec
Accel = 1000 units/sec2
Decel = 500 units/sec2
Output
Vmax – 279 units/sec
T1(accel) – 0.27924 sec
T2(constant) – 3.16228 sec
T3 (decel) – 0.55848

Can someone help with the formulas need to calculate these unknown values.

Best Answer

From the area of the trapezium you have $$(t_3+4)\frac V2=1000$$

From the suvat formula $v=u+at$ you also have $$V=1000t_1=500t_2$$

And, of course, $$t_1+t_2+t_3=4\implies t_3=4-\frac{3V}{1000}$$

This leads to the quadratic equation $$\left(8-\frac{3V}{1000}\right)\frac V2=1000$$

Solve this and you get $$V=279.24$$ as well as another, spurious, solution. The other results then follow.

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