Abstract
Bucket wheel excavators are the most widely used technology for lignite extraction and overburden removal in opencast mining. This is due to their high efficiency and ability to handle a wide range of geological conditions. The loads on the bucket wheel and dipper can vary significantly during excavation due to difficult-to-penetrate inclusions and the changing geological environment. This can lead to vibrations that can damage the excavator, especially the structural components directly or indirectly involved in the excavation. To investigate the effects on the main structural elements, it is essential to examine the natural frequencies. In this study, we investigate the natural frequencies and vibration modes of the boom structure of a bucket wheel excavator using a model developed in a previous study. The behavior of the structure is examined using a 3D finite element model under the action of loads and effects during use.