The objective of this thesis is to develop a model that represents the dynamics of a hydraulically operated forestry crane. The model was derived with the traditional Euler-Lagrange formalism and considers the crane mechanics, three double-acting hydraulic cylinders and the valve control unit. On the basis of the derived model we reproduced the entire crane model in MATLAB in order to run simulations herewith. This gave us the possibility to do parameter changes for further studies of the crane in motion. Another major goal within the thesis work was to estimate cylinder friction of the hydraulic actuators. We built up a test rig and used double-acting cylinders for determing their frictional behaviour. For this, we ran open-loop experiments in order to create velocity-friction maps that represented the static friction force of the cylinders. In this concern, we varied system pressure and cylinder load to study their influence on the friction force. By means of the derived static friction maps we approached the cylinder’s dynamic friction behaviour and applied both step and ramp control inputs to examine the spring-damping characteristics of the microspoic bristles in the contacting area. The dynamic friction experiments have been exerted in the fashion of the LuGre model. As a result we acquired different nominal friction parameters that we necessarily used to develope adequate friction models. A third objective of this thesis was to establish a crane-tip control. Instead of a traditional control, providing a direct relationship between joystick input and cylinder extension, the focus was to build up a control for the end-effector’s trajectory in a two-dimensional frame. This could be achieved by using inverse kinematics in order to determine the required joint angles that corresponded to the desired position of the crane-tip. The work also contains a CD including all developed MATLAB models that have been written within this project.

<p>The objective of this thesis is to develop a model that represents the dynamics of a hydraulically operated forestry crane. The model was derived with the traditional Euler-Lagrange formalism and considers the crane mechanics, three double-acting hydraulic cylinders and the valve control unit. On the basis of the derived model we reproduced the entire crane model in MATLAB in order to run simulations herewith. This gave us the possibility to do parameter changes for further studies of the crane in motion.</p><p>Another major goal within the thesis work was to estimate cylinder friction of the hydraulic actuators. We built up a test rig and used double-acting cylinders for determing their frictional behaviour. For this, we ran open-loop experiments in order to create velocity-friction maps that represented the static friction force of the cylinders. In this concern, we varied system pressure and cylinder load to study their influence on the friction force. By means of the derived static friction maps we approached the cylinder’s dynamic friction behaviour and applied both step and ramp control inputs to examine the spring-damping characteristics of the microspoic bristles in the contacting area. The dynamic friction experiments have been exerted in the fashion of the LuGre model. As a result we acquired different nominal friction parameters that we necessarily used to develope adequate friction models.</p><p>A third objective of this thesis was to establish a crane-tip control. Instead of a traditional control, providing a direct relationship between joystick input and cylinder extension, the focus was to build up a control for the end-effector’s trajectory in a two-dimensional frame. This could be achieved by using inverse kinematics in order to determine the required joint angles that corresponded to the desired position of the crane-tip.</p><p>The work also contains a CD including all developed MATLAB models that have been written within this project.</p>

The area of powertrain dynamics has received considerable attention over a number of years. The recent introduction of more stringent emission requirements together with economic pressure has led to a particular focus on increasing powertrain efficiency. This has seen the incorporation of on-board, real-time measurements to predict system behaviour and engine condition. In this domain, accurate models for all powertrain components are important. One strategy to improve accuracy is to evaluate the assumptions made when deriving each model and then to address the simplifications that may introduce large errors. To this end, the aim of the work presented in this dissertation was to investigate the consequences of some of the more common assumptions and simplifications made in low frequency torsional powertrain models, and to propose improved models where appropriate. In particular, the effects of piston-tocylinder friction, crank/gudgeon pin offset, and the torsional behaviour of tyres were studied. Frequency and time domain models were used to investigate system behaviour and model predictions were compared with measurements on a small single cylinder engine. All time domain engine and powertrain models also include a variable inertia function for each reciprocating mechanism. It was found that piston-to-cylinder friction can increase the apparent inertia variation of a single reciprocating engine mechanism. This has implications for the nonlinear behaviour of engines and the drivetrains they are connected to. The effect of crank/gudgeon pin offset also modified the nonlinear behaviour of the mechanism. Though, for typical (small) gudgeon offset values these effects are small. However, for large offset values, achievable practically with crank offset, the modification to the nonlinear behaviour should not be ignored. The low frequency torsional damping properties of a small pneumatic tyre were found to be more accurately represented as hysteretic rather than viscous. Time domain modelling was then used to extend the results to a multi-cylinder engine powertrain and was achieved using the Time Domain Receptance (TDR) method. Various powertrain component TDRs were developed using Laplacians. Powertrain simulations showed that piston-to-cylinder friction can provide additional excitation to the system.