Feature

New design opportunities for hydraulic systems

Hydraulic cylinders present a challenge for engineers who want to design systems that will deliver many thousands of operations, while resisting failure from the common failure mechanisms of buckling and fatigue. Mattias Awad, Ovako’s Head of Marketing and Technology at Cromax AB, explains how specifying clean steel can achieve this.

31/03/2023 10:53:02

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Hydraulic cylinders provide both power and precision in construction and agricultural vehicles, as well as wind turbine pitch control and lifting equipment. However, being long and
thin, they are vulnerable to buckling when acting under compressive forces. Buckling is a particularly risky mode of failure, due to its sudden and unpredictable nature. In
addition, with large mechanical forces at play, buckling can lead to additional risks for machine operators.

Often, when designing hydraulic cylinders, engineers use Euler’s theory. This predicts
the critical buckling threshold for slender rods under compression. It is used widely in structural engineering, where it is used in design codes and methods for engineers
designing beams and columns for buildings and bridges.

However, when applied to hydraulic cylinders, Euler’s theory has been known to overestimate buckling resistance...

Read the full article in DPA's April issue

Written By Sophia Bell

Sophia Bell is the Group Editor of DPA, Connectivity, and PBSI. She joined the team in 2020 as Assistant Editor after achieving a First-Class Honours BA in English Literature and Film Studies from the University of East Anglia. In her current role, she leads the editorial strategy, driving digital growth and ensuring each title continues to deliver trusted, relevant insight for engineering and manufacturing professionals.