Analysis of the impact of the frequency-controlled bucket wheel drive on the dynamic response of the excavator superstructure

Abstract

Bucket wheel excavators (BWEs) are the largest mobile terrestrial machines exposed to the working loads of a periodic character. This paper presents a small portion of the studies, conducted with the goal of proposing a new idea regarding preservation of the load-carrying structures of these machines, based on the implementation of a controllable frequency-controlled drive of the excavating device. A detailed analysis of the dynamic response of the load-carrying structure is required in order to determine the domains of frequency of revolutions of the working device's driving motor where the dynamic response of the structure is favorable, and therefore successfully implement this idea. A methodologically-original study was conducted, using a unique dynamic model of the BWE slewing superstructure that allows for the continuous variation of the frequency of excitation. This has yielded the resonant-free domains, i.e. the domains where the structure is not exposed to the excessive dynamic impacts.