Optimization Design For Dump Truck Lifting Mechanism Based On Virtual Prototype Technology

With the development of computer technology represented by virtual prototyping, virtual design has gradually become a new means of modern design in engineering field. Currently, virtual prototyping technology has been applied to the automotive product research and development, and form a complete application system initially, which has been integrated with professional theory, engineering design and scientific experiments. The application of this technology can assess product performance and optimize design parameters of physical prototype at the early stages of product design, thus reduce the risk of new product development, shorten development cycle, improve product performance and increase market competitiveness of product ultimately.Based on STQ3163L9Y6 dump truck as study object and virtual prototyping software ADAMS and ANSYS as the application platform, the paper mainly optimized the lifting mechanism and key part of dump truck systematically. Firstly, the background and current development of virtual prototyping technology at home and abroad was introduced in the paper. Multi-body dynamics and finite element method theory, virtual prototyping software ADAMS and ANSYS were outlined. Following, based on mechanical optimal design theory, a dump truck lifting mechanism of the virtual prototype model was built, simulated and analyzed by ADAMS. According to the analytical results, the design of key pivot points of the lifting mechanism was optimized. The optimization results reached the aim of reducing thrust of hydraulic cylinder and improving the performance of lifting mechanism. Then, triangular arm was made finite element analysis by ANSYS. Results showed that:the use of material of original triangular arm was irrational. Therefore, triangular arm was optimized topologically by means of variable density method. The optimization results showed that:under the premise of primary strength and stiffness, the quality of triangular arm was reduced by 32.6%, from 67.759kg previous to 45.702kg, achieved the lightweight design of the triangular arm. At last, a whole vehicle model of dump truck was built, the change of thrust of hydraulic cylinder in the condition of self-excited vibration was researched. The results showed that:there were fluctuations. Next, reasons for self-excited vibration——suspension parameters was optimized. After optimization, the maximum thrust of hydraulic cylinder was decreased, the damping of fluctuations was more faster, that provided a reference for design of the dump truck suspension system.This study had successfully applied virtual prototyping technology to optimization design of dump truck lifting mechanism. At the same time, the application had some certain reference in the field of special purpose vehicle.