Structure Analysis and Optimization of Boom Mini Excavator

Using the Finite Element Method

Thesis Proposal, Zairullah Azhar , Mechanical Engineering, Batch 2016, President

University, Jababeka Education Park, Bekasi, 17550, Indonesia

Abstract
Excavator is one of the earths moving machines that has a heavy duty, namely for excavation
tasks. Many resisting forces are unknown during field digging operations to the bucket teeth.
During heavy excavation operations that affect engine parts and may fail. This is more
important and has a big challenge to design engineers to provide better designs of excavator
parts that can work against the worst working conditions and with unexpected strength. There
are many important parts in the excavator such as Chassis, Boom, Arm & bucket but compared
to other Boom parts are small, easily replaced and maintained with the excavator's minimum
idle time. Boom is the main, heavier, and most important part in excavators & therefore Boom's
design & optimization are presented in this paper. Booms are the most important for designers
to achieve not only better parts design for maximum reliability but also minimum weights and
minimum costs for safe designs in all loading conditions. Finite Element Analysis (FEA) is the
most powerful technique for calculating the strength of structures that work under known
boundary and charge conditions. The FEA approach can be applied to optimization. The 3D
boom model is taken in Solidworks, Meshing is done in Hyper mesh, and Ansys will be used
for solutions.
Key : Excavator, Boom, Optimization, Finite Element Analysis (FEA),

Introduction
Boom excavator parts are parts that experience high loads due to severe working
conditions and must work reliably under unexpected work conditions. High stress levels can
cause damage to this section that will affect the productivity of the machine. At present, weight
is a major concern when designing engine components, because performance is proportional
to the ratio of strength to weight. This will also help reduce the overall cost of the excavator.
So, to reduce the weight of the boom and also to facilitate engine performance, optimization is
needed. Force analysis and force analysis are also equally important aspects in the design of
excavator parts.

1
Objectives

The main purpose of structural strength analysis on mini excavators is to determine the
strength of the mini excavator boom

Scope and Limitation of problem :

1. Analysis of the boom structure of workload
2. Calculations are carried out in a static boom state with a bucket in heaped capacity and
maximum load conditions

Methodology

Diagram Methodology

2
Expected Result

The expected result is that we can find out the structural strength of the design we have made.
The results include, maximum stress, total deformation, and deflection.

Conclusions

This study tells about analysis structure and optimization of Boom. Analysis uses ANSYS
software to find out the total deformation, deflection and maximum stress. The analysis results
are used to find out whether the design we have made is safe or not.

References

[1] J. H. Qureshi and M. Sagar, "Study & Analysis of Boom of Backhoe Loader with the Help
of," International Journal of Modern Engineering Research (IJMER), vol. Vol.2, no. Issue
3, pp. pp-882-88, 2012.

[2] D. H. Pamungkas, "Analisis Struktur Boom WA 420 Untuk Material Batu Bara,"
Yogyakarta, 2007.

[3] J. M. Prapajati and B. P.Patel, "A Review on FEA and Optimization of Backhoe
Attachment in Hydraulic Excavator," IACSIT International Journal of Engineering and
Technology, pp. Vol.3, No,5, 2011.

[4] P. Padnan, S. Battuwar, K. Kini and A. Kulk, "Optimisation of the Boom of an Excavator,"
International Journal of Innovative Research in Science,, vol. Vol 7, no. Issue 9, 2018.