Design of an actuation system for a fatigue test rig

Abstract

Hydraulic servo systems are the product of a mature, reliable technology whose main advancements have been produced after the second world war in the so called "cold war" period. However even considering the recent development of electric linear actuator, and the general cost reduction of power electronics, this technology is still fashionable for many motion control applications in which heavy force/encumbrances ratio are required. Modern CAE techniques can be used to overcome traditional design troubles related to the modeling of components, often dominated by non linear effects due to complex physical phenomena like pressure drops, bulk modulus, etc. In this work authors show a case study concerning a real application: the design of the actuation system for an advanced fatigue test rig that have to be used to verify structural and modal properties of compound panels used for the construction of railway vehicles. © Springer Science+Business Media B.V. 2009.