Excavator Design with Simscape

Design an excavator. Define pin locations, calculate BOF and TOF, produce load charts, and simulate dig cycles.

Excavator Design with Simscape

This example models an excavator with hydraulic actuation of the swing motor and cylinders for the boom, stick and bucket. A MATLAB App enables you to explore the mechanical and hydraulic design space to calculate digging and lifting forces according to international standards.

• Pin locations can be adjusted in Excel or in the app.
• Digging forces (BOF/TOF) are calculated according to ISO 6015:2016.
• Pin loads are calculated for BOF, TOF, and lift capacity tests.
• Load charts are determined at a range of arm positions.
• Relief pressure thresholds can be analyzed for each function and the pumps.
• Hydraulic regeneration valves are modeled to evaluate efficiency.
• Dig cycle time and efficiency are determined in dynamic simulation.
• Realistic soil loads are applied to the bucket using Discrete Element Modeling (DEM) software.

See Heavy Equipment Design with Simscape to learn more.

Use the "Download" button above to get files compatible with the latest release of MATLAB.

Use the links below to get files compatible with earlier releases of MATLAB.

• For R2023b: Use Download button above
• For R2023a: https://github.com/mathworks/Excavator-Design-Simscape/archive/23.1.51.5.zip
• For R2022b: https://github.com/mathworks/Excavator-Design-Simscape/archive/22.2.51.5.zip
• For R2022a: https://github.com/mathworks/Excavator-Design-Simscape/archive/22.1.1.0.zip

Open the project file Excavator.prj to get started.

You can also try this example in MATLAB Online.

Excavator Dig Cycle Animation Clip

BOF TOF Calculation, Design Solution App

BOF Calculation, Pressures and Forces

Load Chart, Design Solution App

Excavator Model

Excavator Model, Mechanical System

Excavator Model, Valve Block

Excavator Model, Soil Loads with ThreeParticle/CAE™

An example combining Simscape and ThreeParticle/CAE™ in cosimulation for realistic soil loads on the bucket is provided on GitHub. To obtain it, you can download this entire submission directly from GitHub. Note that these examples will only work on a Windows 64-bit machine.

• For R2023b with DEM Example: https://github.com/simscape/Excavator-Simscape/archive/refs/tags/23.2.1.6.zip
• For R2023a with DEM Example: https://github.com/simscape/Excavator-Simscape/archive/refs/tags/23.1.1.5.zip
• For R2022b with DEM Example: https://github.com/simscape/Excavator-Simscape/archive/refs/tags/22.2.1.5.zip

To learn more about modeling and cosimulation with ThreeParticle/CAE™ please visit

• BECKER 3D
• Simutopia®

To learn more about modeling and simulation with Simscape, please visit:

• Simscape Getting Started Resources

Product Capabilities:

• Simscape™
• Simscape Battery™
• Simscape Driveline™
• Simscape Electrical™
• Simscape Fluids™
• Simscape Multibody™