A compactor-soil coupling model considering mechanical inertia and its delayed feedback active suspension control

Compactors have been widely employed in civil engineering projects, including pavement construction, railway embankments, and dam foundations. To investigate compactor-soil interaction dynamics, researchers have developed numerous dynamic models to optimize compaction efficiency. Traditional modeling approaches typically neglected the mechanical inertia of compactor suspension systems for simplification purposes. However, this simplification underestimates the filtering effect of suspension mass on vibration excitation, resulting in compromised phase delay characterization and high-frequency dynamic response prediction. These limitations adversely affect both control strategy effectiveness and model prediction accuracy. To overcome these limitations, this study develops an innovative compactor-soil coupling model incorporating mechanical inertia to more accurately simulate compactor dynamics. The research systematically examines the dynamic differences introduced by inertia consideration. The results reveal that mechanical inertia significantly prolongs the transient response time—the steady-state times of the frame and drum increase from 8.03 s and 4.57 s to 55.78 s and 27.06 s, respectively. Under conditions of high soil plasticity, the response times of the frame and roller reach 63.58 s and 23.75 s, respectively. Consequently, delayed feedback active suspension control is implemented to effectively suppress system oscillations, reducing the steady-state times to 14.31 s (frame) and 7.67 s (drum) using a displacement gain equal to three times the frame stiffness. Comparative analyses demonstrate the superior adaptability of the proposed coupling model in characterizing compactor dynamic responses. This advanced model not only provides practical solutions for enhancing vibration isolation and compaction quality but also establishes a theoretical foundation for developing next-generation intelligent compaction systems. • A new compactor-soil coupling model was proposed. • Influence of the mechanical inertia of the suspension on the dynamic response of the compactor was considered. • Differences between the new model and the model that does not consider mechanical inertia were compared. • Effect of delayed feedback active suspension control on the dynamic response was investigated.