Potential of fibre-reinforced components for lightweight construction machines with low noise emission

Research output: Contribution to book/conference proceedings/anthology/reportConference contributionContributedpeer-review

Abstract

The emission of sound and noise of machines especially for construction companies is increasingly considered as important. This is caused by the strict limitations of the overall noise emission on construction areas. Thus, machines with low noise emission are more and more required by the manufactures of construction equipment. Furthermore, construction machines have to be transported between different construction areas, wherefore they have to be light and easy to handle. Besides, a flexible and fast maintenance is required. A possibility to reach these targets is the use of modern fibre-reinforced composites with their adjustable property profile regarding stiffness, strength and sound emission [1]. Using the example of an upper side hood of a cooling air outlet, the potential of glass fibre-reinforced composite was analysed. Besides the main focus of reducing the weight of the hood, the noise emission was considered in the design process. Starting with an analysis of the acoustical, thermal and mechanical behaviour of a reference hood made of steel, different fibre-reinforced concepts were developed. As a result, the usage of glass fibre-reinforced epoxy in combination with a material adapted design allows a reduction of the overall mass of the hood up to 85 %, achieving the requirements concerning stiffness, deformation, impact and sound. Based on the preliminary investigations, a prototype was build showing a significantly reduced weight. Subsequently, the prototype was installed at a construction machine and sound pressure measurements were done with both configurations. The resulting noise emission of the construction machine was kept constant and consequently additional noise absorbers got obsolete.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publication43rd International Congress and Exposition on Noise Control Engineering (Internoise 2014)
Pages5250-5259
Number of pages10
Volume7
ISBN (electronic)978-0-90988203-7
Publication statusPublished - 2015
Peer-reviewedYes

Symposium

Title43rd International Congress and Exposition on Noise Control Engineering
SubtitleImproving the World through Noise Control
Abbreviated titleInternoise 2014
Conference number
Duration16 - 19 November 2014
Location
CityMelbourne
CountryAustralia

External IDs

Scopus 84923619408
ORCID /0000-0003-2834-8933/work/142238359

Keywords

Keywords

  • Hood, Lightweight, Low-noise-emission, Silencer