Design and Analysis of Trapezoidal Bucket Excavator For

Backhoe
Sumar Hadi_1a, Bayuseno_2b, Jamari_3c, Rachmat Muhamad Andika_4d ,and Kurnia Chamid_5e
a
Diponegoro University, Semarang, Semarang, Indonesia
bDiponegoro University, Semarang, Semarang, Indonesia

cDiponegoro University, Semarang, Semarang, Indonesia

dDiponegoro University, Semarang, Semarang, Indonesia

eDiponegoro University, Semarang, Semarang, Indonesia

sumarhs.undip@gmail.com

Abstract
Excavator is the most multifunction heavy tool because it can handle other heavy tool such as sloping, dumptruck
loading, and breaker. After doing the operation, there is a possibility of damage in adapter bucket teeth connection
which is same as the bending in bucket teeth part. The aim of this paper is designing bucke excavator using
SOLIDWORK 2016 software and doing the analysis with ANSYS R15.0 software and using finite element analysis
(FEA) method. This paper emphasize about the development that is done in the tip of excavator bucket teeth based on
the calculation and ANSYS simulation with maximum shear stress result which is in the amount of 50,437 Mpa with
maximum deformation level is being found at the part of bucket teeth head.

Keywords: Excavator Bucket, Trapezoidal Bucket Design, FEA approach

Introduction
Excavator is the heavy tool consisting of arm, boom (shoulder), and bucket which is pushed by hydrolyzed strength
of the handled diesel machine and trackshoe. Excavator has multifunction ability because it can handle various of other
heavy tools works. As same as its name (excavation), an excavator is a piece of heavy equipment which is often used in
construction works, mining works, and some works of lifting heavy load for human (Tupkar, 2015). Excavator can do
construction works such as making a slope, dumptruck loading, breaker, and so on (Lidiawati, 2013).

The teeth of excavator is a part that gets the first contact with soil while doing excavation works in various situations
(Tupkar, 2015). Using excavator can increase some necessities in the daily life, but in its application, there is no
checking works of the emergency possibilites while it is used, so that the damage of teeth bucket excavator can occur
when excavation process. So, in this case explains that sometimes the damage of teeth excavator part because of some
handling is not appropriate by operator. Therefore, it is necessary of doing pressure calculation at the tip of bucket
excavator teeth using finite element analysis (FEA) method which aims to decrease the damage..

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Theory of Force Calculations
Bucket penetration into a material is achieved by the bucket curling force (Fb) and arm crowd force (Fs). The rating of
these digging forces is set by SAE J1179 standard “Hydraulic Excavator and Backhoe: Digging Forces”.

These rate digging forces can be exerted at the outermost cutting point (that is the tip of the bucket teeth). These forces
can be calculated by applying relief hydraulic pressure to the cylinders providing the digging force.

Fig.1. Determination of Digging Forces (Braveshkumar and Jagdish, 2012)

According to SAE J1 179: Maximum radial tooth force due to bucket cylinder (bucket curling force) F B is the digging
force generated by the bucket cylinder and tangent to the arc or radius d D.

(1)

Arm crowd force (Fs) is the force generated at the tip of teeth due to arm cylinder is the digging force generated by the
arm cylinder and tangent to arc of radius dF.

(2)

Breakout Force (L): The breakout force is the available force, as shown in fig. 2, at the tip of the teeth created by the
bucket cylinder. Maximum breakout force (L) is reached when the available tooth force reaches at its maximum. It is
calculated by using formula

(3)
Fl = Bucket cylinder force
C = Perpendicular distance bucket cylinder axis - lever pivot
D = Perpendicular distance connecting link axis - lever pivot
e = Perpendicular distance connecting link axis – bucket pivot
r = Radius bucket pivot - tooth lip

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 Fig.2. Determination of Breakout Force (Kumar and Alam, 2016)

Methodology
This paper based on two main methods. There are geometric modelling of trapezoidal bucket and analysis methode
using finite element analysis (FEA) approach.

1. Material Selection
The bucket material for excavator were taken as of Alloy Steel Hardox 500 standard and have the following properties
as shown in table 1

Table 1. Material Properties (Sharma, 2017)

Modulus Elasticity 210 GPa

Poisson’s Ratio 0.29

Ultimate Tensile Strenght 1250 MPa

Yield Tensile Strenght 1000 MPa

Impact Toughness 30 J

Density 7850 kg/m3

Brinell Hardness 370 - 500

2. Geometric Modelling Methode

The geometry of the excavator trapezoidal bucket has been obtained by an extrusion in SOLIDWORK 2016. First
generates an excavator trapezoidal bucket, teeth and rivet. Then bucket, teeth and rivet are assembled together in
assembly tool of SOLIDWORK 2016. This model is now ready to be imported for preprocessing.

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 Fig.3. Excavator Trapezoidal Bucket

3. Finite Element Analysis (FEA) Methode

The model was developed in the SOLIDWORK 2016 software. Finite element analysis are used in design
improvement and optimization purposes for many machine parts. In this project, my main emphasis is on the
trapezoidal bucket which comes first in contact with soil for its contact deformation as well as the stress generation for
doing various types of operation. To achieve this, excavator trapezoidal bucket have been analyzed under maximum
loads and different boundary conditions.

Table 2. Mesh Statistics

Statistics

Nodes 15641

Elements 8205

Fig.4. Meshing Trapezoidal Bucket

It is the imitation of the operation of a real-world process or system over time. The act of simulating something first

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requires that a model be developed; this model represents the key characteristics or behaviors/functions of the selected
physical or abstract system or process. ANSYS provides a wide range of affordable technologies and services to help
meet the diverse and evolving needs for design. In ANSYS R15.0 stress at each and every element are determined.
Click icon Main Menu > Project > Model > Static Structural > Solution. ANSYS displays the model with a color
contours for stressesThe reports generated by ANSYS R15.0 on working excavator bucket are as follows:

Fig.5. Total Deformation

Fig.6. Von Mises Strain

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 Fig.7. Maximum Shear Stress

Result and Discussion

The mechanical properties of steel used in linear elastic finite element analysis are also taken: Young’s modulus is 210
GPa and Poisson’s ratio is 0.29. This material behavior is assumed to be linear elastic until the effective strais reaches
proportional limit and in this region the strain relation is represented by Hooke’s law. Maximum Shear stress is calculated
50.437 MPa then maximum strain generated is calculated using von-misses stress theory as shown in fig.6 is calculated
0.0004857 where it shows maximum strain is at the fixed point while the rate of deformation is maximum at the tip of the
teeth shown in fig.5 is calculated 4.8334 mm and thus wear of teeth occurs from tip to the whole body. It was observed that
the head of tooth is the most critical point and so it could be conclude that high strength steel will be adequate because of
the extreme loads.

Conclusion
This paper represent design an Excavator Trapezoidal bucket by using ANSYS R15.0 software. Following conclusion
can be drawn from the above analysis:

1. Maximum strain are generating at the fixed position of top of inside bucket.

2. Maximum deformation will occur at the tip of tooth to the whole body.

As per it is suggested that the bucket used for the excavation purpose should be properly checked for its application on
the basis of the soil strata. Also geometry is one of the parameter and effects the deformation during operation life as other
type of bucket. Considering the failure of the tooth and rivet due the impact loading, it is very much economical to change
the rivet rather than changing the whole tooth assembly.

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