Wear Model of an Excavator Bucket

A mathematical model describing wear of the interior faces of the excavator bucket during the long-termed operation is proposed. The model is based on the Navier-Stocks equation and boundary conditions. The bucket was modeled as a rectangular parallelepiped; one of its faces is permeable for a granular material, whereas the others meet the conditions of impermeability and adhesion. In the approximation of viscous fluid, motion equations of a granular material in the excavator bucket were solved by the finite elements method. The velocity distribution curves of material particles along the bucket surface are obtained. A vortex structure is revealed at the bottom-back wall edge of the bucket, and it is thought to be the reason for high wear in these zones. As shown by the granular material pressure distributed along the bucket walls, its maximum is at the bottom-back wall edge of the excavator bucket. It is considered to be the reason for high wear in the operation process. Therefore, the bottom and back walls of the excavator bucket should be coated with a composite armouring mesh via arc surfacing.