Multidisciplinary Design Optimization of Excavator Positive Flow Control System

Due to the obstacle to the global optimal solution through the conventional sequential design, the multidisciplinary design optimization (MDO) of an excavator positive flow control system was carried out with hydraulic components and controller programs as design objects simultaneously. The positive flow control system model was established on the basis of bench and field tests to describe the coupling relationship among different subsystems. The comprehensive performance function was proposed and the MDO was carried out with the multiway valve’s throttling characteristics, positive flow control parameters and spool geometries as design variables. Compared with the sequential design that only the control parameters were adjusted, the MDO searched a wider design space. The comprehensive working performance has been improved with the MDO of an excavator’s swing system, which is an example for forward designs of other complicated electro-mechanical-hydraulic systems.