Browsing by Author "Kaczmarczyk, Stefan."

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Influence of wagon structure on the vertical response of freight.
(2002) Loubser, Richard Clive.; Kaczmarczyk, Stefan.; Adali, Sarp.
Historically, wagons have been designed according to the American Association of Railroads specifications. These require that wagons be designed to withstand a static load between the couplers of 350 tons. This implies that the structure has a certain stiffness. In order to improve load to tare ratio, there has been talk of reducing the end load specifications. This implies that the stiffness of the wagon will reduce. Using more flexible wagons implies that the freight will probably be exposed to a harsher dynamic environment. There is a trade off between the cost of packaging and the cost of protection devices installed in the vehicle. If handling damage can be prevented then an understanding of the dynamic environment will assist in reducing the packaging requirement. This research looked at the dynamic characteristics of an existing design of wagon using modal analysis. The results from the modal analysis were extended to be inputs to the time domain freight model. Various analytical models of the freight were developed depending on the configuration and dynamic properties. Special consideration was given to a cylinder with its axis transverse to the wagon. The modal model was modified to accommodate the change in mass imposed by the freight. The various sources of dynamic excitation were explored, namely inputs from the coupler and from the bogie. Data from shunting yard simulations were used to generate spectra as input to the wagon model. The objective was to use modal techniques to be able to take individual components, form them into a complete model and make informed decisions about the suitability of a certain configuration for traffic.
Non-stationary responses on hoisting cables with slowly varying length.
(1999) Kaczmarczyk, Stefan.; Adali, Sarp.
Cables in hoisting installations, due to their flexibility, are susceptible to vibrations. A common arrangement in industrial hoisting systems comprises a driving winder drum, a steel wire cable, a sheave mounted in headgear, a vertical shaft and a conveyance. This system can be treated as an assemblage of two connected interactive, continuous substructures, namely of the catenary and of the vertical rope, with the sheave acting as a coupling member, and with the winder drum regarded as an ideal energy source. The length of the vertical rope is varying during the wind so that the mean catenary tension is continuously varying. Therefore, the natural frequencies of both subsystems are time-dependent and the entire structure represents a non-stationary dynamic system. The main dynamic response, namely lateral vibrations of the catenary and longitudinal vibrations of the vertical rope, are caused by various sources of excitation present in the system. The most significant sources are loads due to the winding cycle acceleration/deceleration profile and a mechanism applied on the winder drum surface in order to achieve a uniform coiling pattern. The classical moving frame approach is used to derive a mathematical model describing the non-stationary response of the system. First the longitudinal response and passage through primary resonance is examined. The response is analyzed using a combined perturbation and numerical technique. The method of multiple scales is used to formulate a uniformly valid perturbation expansion for the response near the resonance, and a system of first order ordinary differential equations for the slowly varying amplitude and phase of the response results. This system is integrated numerically on a slow time scale. A model example is discussed, and the behaviour of the essential dynamic properties of the system during the transition through resonance is examined. Interactions between various types of vibration within the system exist. The sheave inertial coupling between the catenary and the vertical rope subsystems facilitates extensive interactions between the catenary and the vertical rope motions. The nature of these interactions is strongly non-linear. The lateral vibration of the catenary induces the longitudinal oscillations in the vertical system and vice-versa. In order to analyze dynamic phenomena arising due these interactions the nonlinear partial-differential equations of motion are discretised by writing the deflections in terms of the linear, free-vibration modes of the system, which result in a non-linear set of coupled, second order ordinary differential equations with slowly varying coefficients. Using this formulation, the dynamic response of an existing hoisting installation, where problematic dynamic behaviour was observed, is simulated numerically. The simulation predicts strong modal interactions during passage through external, parametric and internal resonances, confirming the autoparametric and non-stationary nature of the system recorded during its operation. The results of this research demonstrate the non-stationary and non-linear behaviour of hoisting cables with slowly varying length. It is shown that during passage through resonance a large response may lead to high oscillations in the cables' tensions, which in turn contribute directly to fatigue damage effects. The results obtained show also that the non-linear coupling in the system promotes significant modal interactions during the passage through the instability regions. The analysis techniques presented in the study form a useful tool that can be employed in determining the design parameters of hoisting systems, as well as in developing a careful winding strategy, to ensure that the regions of excessive dynamic response are avoided during the normal operating regimes.
Virtual prototyping of an articulated dump truck.
(2003) Govender, Deena.; Kaczmarczyk, Stefan.
In the modem automotive industry product times to market are being increasingly compressed. In the earthmoving and construction machine industry this is also true with the manufacturer having to respond to new customer requirements quickly and decisively. Virtual prototyping is a vital tool in the vehicle engineer's armoury, allowing a large portion of developmental investigation to be done on the virtual model with the attendant savings in time and cost and allowing often dangerous manoeuvres to be predicted and investigated prior to actual physical prototype testing. The University of Natal BELL Equipment collaborative effort involves the vehicle dynamics modelling and model validation of a BELL Equipment manufactured B40C Articulated Dump Truck (ADT). The modelling was completed using the multibody system (MBS) simulation software package, ADAMS. Initial modelling and simulation results are presented with specific attention paid to the introduction of valid data for compliant joints in the MBS as well as modelling of the tire. The physical testing of the ADT is also presented as well as a discussion of the data acquisition system. Key results from the physical testing of the ADT are also presented and discussed.