Prediction of Shock Load due to Stopper Hitting During Steering in an Articulated Earth Moving Equipment

Abstract

Design of structural members to overcome the failure due to shock loads is a challenging process. In this work, an effort is made to analytically predict the shock load due to hitting of the front chassis stopper on the rear chassis stopper during steering operation in an articulated earth moving equipment. The value of the shock load is obtained by equating the moment due to steering cylinders to the moment due to stopper hitting force. In order to verify the methodology, a prototype plate similar to the stopper was made and strain gauge rosette was pasted to it. Experimentation was done by applying the load to the prototype plate and the strain values are recorded for different load values in a laboratory set up condition. Strain gauging was also carried out by mounting the same prototype plate in the actual field machine. The value of shock load was obtained by calibrating the strain values obtained from the field against that of the laboratory experimental values. It is found that a very good correlation exists between the analytical and experimental values of the stopper load.