A test rig and numerical model for investigating truck mounted concrete pumps

Concrete pump booms are subjected to vibrations that increase mechanical stress and shorten their lifespan.This paper aims to study the problem by considering the two subsystems, the boom and the concrete pump, that have the greatest effect on the phenomenon. The authors supply numerical and experimental tools that can analyze the problem in depth in all its complexity. First, the systems were investigated independently, to identify their individual aspects. Then a mathematical model was created to reproduce the behavior of the whole system and the interaction between boom and pump. The result was a new powerful tool for investigating passive and active solutions for suppressing vibration.

Research Highlights
► Vibrations reduce the life and safety of flexible systems like concrete placing booms.
► Two separate models and test rigs are created for the boom and the pump.
► The boom model simulates the large motion and vibrations.
► The pump model calculates the forces acting on the boom.
► A co-simulation reproduces the behavior of the whole system.