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Multibody modeling and vibration dynamics analysis of washing machines

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Abstract

In this paper a computational model of a horizontal axis washing machine is presented. The model has been built using a theoretical-experimental methodology consisting of integration of multibody system (MBS) formalism, detailed modeling of machine functional components and experimental data-based validation. The complete model of a washing machine is implemented in the commercial MBS environment Adams/View from MSC.Software. An undesirable impact of washing machine operation on the surroundings is vibration and noise. The impact comes from system dynamics and poorly distributed load inside the drum, creating an imbalance. To get insight into vibration dynamics extensive simulations have been performed for washing machines in service as well as for machines in the developing stage by using the created computational model. This paper presents several results of numerical studies of the vibration dynamics of washing machines including the study of sensitivity of system dynamics with respect to suspension structural parameters, and the results of investigation of the potential of the automatic counterbalancing technology for vibration output reduction. In particular, simulations of the considered two-plane balancing device has shown an existing significant potential in eliminating unbalanced load at supercritical spinning speed, resulting in a substantial vibration reduction in washing machines.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported financially by Asko Appliances AB, Vara, Sweden.

The authors wish to thank to Peder Bengtsson, Anders Eriksson, Patrik Jansson, Anders Sahlén and Marcus Person, all working at above mentioned company, for their support and ideas during the project within which this paper was written.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Applied Mechanics, Chalmers University of Technology, Göteborg, Sweden

    Thomas Nygårds & Viktor Berbyuk

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  1. Thomas Nygårds
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  2. Viktor Berbyuk
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Correspondence to Thomas Nygårds.

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Commemorative contribution.

Appendix

Appendix

In \(\dot{\mathbf{x}} = \mathbf{Ax}\), where x=[x 1,x 2,x 3,…,x 24]T

x 1::

x position in local coordinate system of pulley, local coordinate system rotated 30 degrees counterclockwise around global y at t=0 s

x 2::

z position in local coordinate system of cradle center of mass parallel with global z at t=0 s

x 3::

z position in local coordinate system of left front foot parallel with global z at t=0 s

x 4::

y position in local coordinate system of right front foot parallel with global y at t=0 s

x 5::

z position in local coordinate system of right front foot parallel with global z at t=0 s

x 6::

y position in local coordinate system of left rear foot parallel with global y at t=0 s

x 7::

x position in local coordinate system of bottom housing plate center, parallel with global x at t=0 s

x 8::

x position in local coordinate system of imbalance load, located at the front bottom of the drum, parallel with global x at t=0 s

x 9::

x position in local coordinate system of top spring attachment plate center, parallel with global x at t=0 s

x 10::

y position in local coordinate system of top spring attachment plate center, parallel with global y at t=0 s

x 11::

y position in local coordinate system of top housing plate center, parallel with global y at t=0 s

x 12::

y position in local coordinate system of rotating part of motor, parallel with global y at t=0 s.

x 13 to x 24: velocities of the above quantities.

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Nygårds, T., Berbyuk, V. Multibody modeling and vibration dynamics analysis of washing machines. Multibody Syst Dyn 27, 197–238 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11044-011-9292-5

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