Abstract
The swing noise of an excavator is reduced in this study. When an excavator is under a swing motion, it produces the annoying noise which is required to be reduced. To identify the characteristics of the swing noise, the signals of noise and vibration from an excavator are measured during the swing motion. From the variation of the driving motor speed, the noise and vibration signals are picked up and plotted in the waterfall plots. From the waterfall plots, we identify the frequency components corresponding to the driving motor frequency, the gear mesh frequency of the planetary gear, and their harmonics. In addition, the natural frequencies and modes of the center frame are extracted by using the experimental modal test. It is found that the swing noise is amplified when the gear mesh frequencies coincide with the natural frequencies of the center frame. To reduce the swing noise, the structural modification is performed to the center frame. Finally, it is observed that the noise is considerably reduced by the structural modification.
