A multibody model of an excavator was developed to calculate the loads acting on the structure and to perform static structural verifications of the different components.

In addition, the influence of flexibility was considered with the use of both the Reduced Flex and the Full Flex options in RecurDyn. This type of model can be used to size the excavator components (eg. the hydraulic cylinders, the slew ring, the hydraulic pumps, etc); to evaluate the motion of the machine; to simulate particular loading conditions; and to calculate the forces acting between the different bodies. The loads calculated can then be used to correctly perform the static structural verifications, considering both the inertial effects and the external loads effects.

In addition, the Reduced Flex and the Full Flex models provide information about the stresses operating on the structure, which can be used to perform a preliminary sizing.