# Optimization of Excavator Bucket Structure by a Coupled Simulation Method
## 4 Conclusions  
In this study, the bucket structure was optimized for different geological conditions based on the orthogonal experimental method and the Adams-EDEM coupled method. The main conclusions are as follows:  
Based on the excavation resistance characteristics of the bucket, the excavation process can be divided into four stages: (1) The bucket is lowered without touching the ore material. (2) The bucket continuously inserts ore material. (3) The bucket rotates around the bucket rod to fill with ore material. (4) The bucket is lifted when the bucket is filled with ore material.  
According to the orthogonal experimental method, the optimized parameter combinations of bucket structures under different geological conditions were obtained, and it was found that the optimized structure of the bucket is different under different geological conditions. Therefore, it is necessary to optimize the bucket structure for different geological conditions.  
Comparing the excavation resistance changes of the main load-bearing components before and after bucket optimization, it was found that the bucket teeth are the main load-bearing components during the excavation process. After structural optimization, the excavation resistance of the bucket teeth is significantly reduced, while the excavation resistance changes of other components of the bucket are relatively small.  
In this study, the stress and deformation analysis of the bucket before and after the structural optimization was not carried out to analyze the damaged position of the bucket so as to further optimize the bucket structure. In future research, dynamic, discrete element and finite element methods can be combined to carry out static analysis of the bucket before and after structural optimization. By comparing the stress and deformation of the bucket before and after structure optimization, the structure of the bucket is further improved. In addition, the optimized bucket can be manufactured according to the reduction ratio, sensor technology can be used to monitor the excavation resistance during the excavation process, and the mining energy consumption and filling rate can be calculated to verify the simulation results.  
Conceptualization, Y.W., L.W. and D.W.; methodology, Y.W., L.W., C.L., Z.X. and Y.S. ([PERSON]); software, Z.X., Y.S. ([PERSON]), X.W., L.T., Y.S. ([PERSON]) and W.X.; formal analysis, Y.W., C.L., Z.X. and Y.S. ([PERSON]); investigation, Y.W., L.W., C.L., Z.X., Y.S. ([PERSON]), R.M., D.W., M.C., X.W., L.T., Y.S. ([PERSON]) and W.X.; data curation, Z.X., Y.S. ([PERSON]), R.M., M.C., X.W., L.T., Y.S. ([PERSON]) and W.X.; writing--original draft preparation, Y.W. and C.L.; writing--review and editing, L.W. and D.W.; supervision, Y.W., R.M., D.W. and M.C.; project administration, D.W.; funding acquisition, D.W. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.  
This research was funded by the project from CUMT-XCMG Mining Intelligent Equipment Technology Research Institute (Grant no. 2020050049 2202).  
Not applicable.  
Data Availability Statement: Data will be made available on request.  
We declare that we have no financial and personal relationships with other people or organizations that can inappropriately influence our work and that there are no professional or other personal interests of any nature or kind in any product, service and/or company that could be construed as influencing the position presented in, or the review of, this manuscript.