Experimental Study on an Articulated Steering Mechanism Integrated with Multi-Objective Optimization

Pressure fluctuations in the articulated steering system of wheel loaders can degrade steering smoothness, operational stability, and energy utilization efficiency. To address this issue, this study starts from the stroke difference and force-arm difference of steering cylinders induced by articulation motion, systematically reveals the structural mechanism responsible for pressure fluctuations in the steering mechanism, and proposes a suppression method based on hinge-point optimization. Specifically, a mathematical model of the articulated steering mechanism is established according to the analytical relationships between the stroke difference, force-arm difference, and articulation angle. The Dung Beetle Optimizer (DBO) is introduced to optimize and compare the hinge-point coordinates of the steering cylinders under different single-objective and multi-objective functions, thereby clarifying that the force-arm difference is the dominant factor affecting pressure fluctuations. Prototype modification and full-vehicle experiments are then conducted for validation. The results demonstrate that the hinge-point coordinates optimized with the force-arm difference as the objective function can significantly suppress steering pressure fluctuations. This study provides a theoretical basis and engineering reference for structural design, hinge-point layout optimization, and pressure-fluctuation suppression in articulated steering systems of wheel loaders.