Output waveform analysis of an electro-hydraulic vibrator controlled by the multiple valves

Abstract

The existing research of the electro-hydraulic vibrator mainly focuses on system stability, working frequency width and output waveform distortion. However, this high frequency performance of the electro-hydraulic vibrator is difficult to be improved greatly due to fast insufficiently frequency response of the servo valve itself and limited compensation capability of the control structure in the vibrator system. In this paper, to realize high frequency vibration, an improved two-dimensional valve (here within defined as a 2D valve) as a main control component is adopted to the parallel connection with a servo valve to control the electro-hydraulic vibrator. Because the output waveforms of this electro-hydraulic vibrator are incapable to be verified through timely feedback as in the conventional electro-hydraulic servo system, the analysis to the output waveform becomes crucial to the design and control of the electro-hydraulic vibrator. The mathematical models of hydraulic actuation mechanism and the orifice area of the parallel valves connection are established first. And then the vibration process is divided into two sections in terms of the direction of the flow, the analytical expression of the excited waveform is solved. Based on the analytical results, the vibration boundary positions and the relationships exist between working states and the control parameters are derived. Finally an experimental system was built to validate the theoretical analysis. It is verified that this electro-hydraulic vibration system could achieve high working frequency, up to 2 000 Hz. The excited waveform is similar to the sinusoidal waveform. And the ascent and decent slopes of the waveforms are somewhat asymmetrical. This asymmetry is not only caused by the change of the direction of the elastic force but also dependent on the bias position of the vibration. Consequently the distortion of effective working waveform is less than 10%. This electro-hydraulic vibrator controlled by the multiple valves could not only greatly enhance the working frequency but also precisely control the vibration characteristic variables such as waveform shape.