Modeling and bifurcation analysis of a hydraulic actuator system with different valve spool geometry

Abstract

The valve spools of hydraulic actuator systems are usually designed into various geometries to achieve different flow characters. Because of the coupling nonlinear flow rate-pressure character and dynamic motion of the valve spool, self-excited vibration can happen in some working conditions of the system, which can lead to unexpected dynamic performance. The object of this paper is to investigate the stability of a hydraulic system with three different spool geometries, a normal sharp edge spool, a spool with chamfer, and a spool with u shape notches. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations of flow force and flow rate under different pressure difference and valve openings are proposed to obtain the pressure-flow characters of flow field inside the valves with different spool geometries. A nonlinear dynamic model of the actuator system dynamics is established basing on the CFD results of pressure control valve and the system. Numerical Bifurcation analyses are carried out to study the effect of spool geometries on the bifurcation point of the system. Simulation results suggest that the spool geometries can affect the flow characters of the valve and decrease the stable region of the parameter plane.