Static Load Tests for Heavy Equipment with Simscape

Simscape helps you design heavy equipment. In this video, we're going to see how to calculate static loads such as breakout force, tearout force, and load charts. To assess an excavator design, performance metrics are calculated according to international standards. This involves placing the excavator in a specific position and applying a force at a certain location along a certain axis.

Using MATLAB, we can define pin locations and pressure limits for the design. Using Simscape, we can place the excavator in a specific position and apply a force until the limit is exceeded. This allows us to use simulation to calculate breakout force, tearout force, and to generate load charts like you would see on a data sheet.

Optimization algorithms can be used to tune pin locations and pressure limits until an optimal design is found. You can download the model we have provided and configure the model to optimize your own design.