Mobile Multibody Dynamics

Mobile Multibody Dynamics (MOMDYN) is the first multibody dynamics app for iOS. MOMDYN provides an easy to use graphical interface that is familiar to mechanical engineers and physicists who have studied classical mechanics, with a powerful set of features similar to modern modeling and simulation software. The software forms a bridge between the"first-principles" approach to dynamics problem solving where one defines kinematic and dynamic equations by hand before developing custom code for each individual system, and the modern approach where the fundamental mathematical equations are hidden behind a purely graphical, computer aided design (CAD)-like interface.

MOMDYN is an excellent educational resource for students enrolled in dynamics, vibration, or structural analysis coursework as part of a mechanical or aerospace engineering program. The modeling process and equations are all visible to the user, and you can even export custom Python code so you can simulate your system on a desktop. The app provides an entry point to learning multibody dynamics simulation, which will ease the learning curve for using modern scientific computing software.


The creative instinct is one that we humans have little control over. While we would hope that our best ideas strike while we are best-equipped to take action, the reality is that they will frequently hit while we are laying in bed, riding on a train, or out for a walk. On some cases, they may even come while we are sitting in a boring meeting away from the comfort zone of our workstation. For most of us, our mobile devices are never more than a few feet away. MOMDYN lets you take action and build on your ideas in the moment, and watch them take motion in the palm of your hand.


Multibody dynamics simulation is increasingly becoming an essential discipline for the development of complex mechanical systems. Recent years have seen the rise of many excellent software solutions, many belonging to larger multidisciplinary computer aided engineering packages. These products are great, expansive solutions that can be a pleasure to learn, use, and occasionally abuse. For many professionals, these provide for a lucrative career or business model. For others, the cost is a significant barrier to entry. MOMDYN presents an accessible alternative for engineering students or developing professionals who want to learn the basic principles behind how the advanced software works so they can feel confident in applying those tools in their future careers.


Your mobile device does a lot of amazing things, but no one would call it a high performance computer. Want to run your model once? No problem, MOMDYN has you covered. Want to run 100,000 cases in a Monte Carlo study? You’re going to want a professional workstation or computing cluster for that. This is advanced stuff, but MOMDYN can help: With the Export menu, you can choose to automatically generate Python source code that will replicate the same equations and parameters that you set up on your device, and can be executed in a Python environment using common and freely available packages. Want phase plots, frequency spectra, or to integrate your mechanism model with another physical or control system? If you can code it, you can do it.