Wright, Craig (2019) Chemically Bonded Excavator Bucket Redesign. [USQ Project]
Abstract
Excavator machinery is a key tool used by many industries and excavator machinery manufactures have the potential to capture this large market to achieve a high level of profitability. The intent of this report is to investigate an alternate means of manufacturing excavator buckets utilising advances in chemical bonding with structural adhesives. The report has highlighted the strengths of chemical bonding, provided novel bucket joint configurations tailored to chemical bonding and identified areas where the alternate manufacturing process can be applied successfully.
The main objective of this report was to investigate how chemical bonding can be utilised in manufacturing excavator buckets that comply with current international industry standards. The efficacy of using chemical adhesion within a bucket’s structural fabrication and ancillary attachments was assessed and the performance of chemically bonded buckets were determined using Finite Element Analysis (FEA). An extensive literature review was conducted on typical excavator bucket configuration, governing international industry standards, excavator market demand, fabrication material properties, structural adhesives types, properties and strengths, joint configuration and fabrication requirements. The selection of an appropriate bucket type to test was achieved though market analysis. Structural adhesives were compared in a decision matrix using their technical data against key design criteria for: Lap Shear Strength, Peel Strength, Working Temperature, Cure Time, Curing Processes, Surface Preparation, Slump and Sag. International industry standards (ISO 7451, SAE-J1179 and SAE J296) were applied to determine appropriate loading conditions for testing. Joint configuration was assessed and adapted for structural adhesives. The bucket construction designed was tailored to incorporate a chemically bonded process of manufacturing. The design was created in a 3D software package and a Finite Element Analysis (FEA) identified where the alternate manufacturing process can be successfully applied.
A semi adhesively joined bucket designed withstood all loading conditions and highlight the adaptability of numerous design elements which could be incorporated into current, standard welded buckets in the market. Finite element analysis showed potential for the development and testing of a semi adhesively joined bucket product for an excavator. The application of chemically bonding non-alike materials could be applied to increase bucket usage life by adding of wear components. Hard-wearing technical ceramics could be investigated for used in high wear areas, attached as skin liners and ground engagement tools.
The investigation of long-term ultraviolet light effects and heating over 65 degrees Celsius would also be beneficial to assess chemically bonded components longevity when exposed to the elements.
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| Item Type: | USQ Project |
|---|---|
| Item Status: | Live Archive |
| Faculty/School / Institute/Centre: | Historic - Faculty of Health, Engineering and Sciences - School of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering (1 Jul 2013 - 31 Dec 2021) |
| Supervisors: | Epaarachchi, Jayantha |
| Qualification: | Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) (Mechanical) |
| Date Deposited: | 16 Aug 2021 23:45 |
| Last Modified: | 27 Jun 2023 04:21 |
| URI: | https://sear.unisq.edu.au/id/eprint/43126 |
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