Load-bearing steel structure diagnostics on bucket wheel excavator, for the purpose of failure prevention

The appearance of cracks on load-bearing steel structure of compact, hydraulic bucket wheel excavator was a perennial problem. Unfavourable stress concentration, inadequate geometry and structure of materials, inadequate operational technology has led to crack appearance and reduced structural integrity. Finite elements method is defined in this paper as a diagnostic tool for the prevention of the anomalies during operation of the bucket wheel excavator. Solution for repair and reconstruction of the excavator’s super structure is the result based on a detailed analysis of the load, identified cracks, the results of calculation and the identified causes of structural failure of excavator’s super structure.