Vibration Analysis and Control of a Vibration Screed System for Asphalt Pavers

To reduce shaking of a vibration screed system (VSS) and improve the paving performance of an asphalt paver (AP), the root-mean-square (RMS) acceleration responses at points on the front and rear screed floors are analyzed via an experimental method. A 3D nonlinear dynamic model of the VSS is also built to evaluate the influence of the dynamic parameters of the VSS on the compression efficiency, paving quality, and working stability of the AP based on the objective functions of the vertical, pitching, and rolling RMS values at the centre of gravity of the screed. The angular deviations, α and γ, of the tamper are then controlled to improve the paving performance. The research results show that the excitation frequency, ft, and both angular deviations, α and γ, of the tamper strongly affect the paving performance. The compression efficiency is quickly enhanced, while both paving quality and working stability are significantly reduced with increasing the excitation frequency ft and reducing the angular deviations. α and γ. and vice versa. Additionally, the screed shaking and paving performance of the AP are remarkably improved by control of the angular deviations, α and γ, under different working conditions.