A Mechanistic Approach to Topsoil Damage due to Slip of Tractor Tyres

Abstract

High slip of tractor traction tyres causes topsoil damage in terms of soil cutting effect with the formation of a strengthless layer strongly exposed to erosion and an underlying layer where shear deformations contribute to the alteration of soil structure functionalities. The cutting effect is clearly indicated by longitudinal topsoil shear displacement. In spite of a recognized need for limiting the slip of tractor tyres, no theoretical approaches have been presented so far to indicate a range where no topsoil damage occurs. In this paper mechanica l conditions along the soil-tyre contact surface which lead to topsoil cutting were analysed with a soil-tyre interaction model and discussed on the basis of traction tests with a M FWD tractor on an agricultural silt loam Calcaric Fluvisol. The longitudinal topsoil shear displacement was measured for a slip ranging between 5% and 48%. An evident topsoil failure took place as soon as the shear stress along the soil-tyre contact approached the soil strength. Values of slip at which this condition was reached were identified for three tractor configurat ions. These slip values should be regarded as indicative limits not to be exceeded in tillage operations in order to avoid topsoil damage in t he conditions considered.

Influence of Extra Weight and Tire Pressure on Fuel Consumption at Normal Tractor Slippage

“…From the results presented in Figure 3 we can see that tractor slip varied in the range from 6.5 to 13.5% during all the tests. This corresponds to the tractor slip that is recommended for tillage works in a number of sources Battiato, Diserens, Laloui, & Sartori, 2013;Moitzi et al, 2013;Srinivasa Rao et al, 2012;Šmerda & Čupera, 2010). In loam stubble of average moisture and hardness, such slip corresponds to adequate grip of driving wheels with the soil Janulevičius & Giedra, 2008;Maclaurin, 2014;Zoz & Grisso, 2003).…”

Impact of Normal and Shear Stresses Due to Wheel Slip on Hydrological Properties of an Agricultural Clay Loam: Experimental and New Computerized Approach

“…Load transfer from the front axle to the rear axle by pulling, and the lowest threshold slip beyond which topsoil shear would occur based on the soil shear stress-maximal soil strength concept of Mohr-Coulomb (Battiato, Diserens, Laloui, & Sartori, 2013) were taken into account in the simulation. The model was adapted for a mechanical front-wheel drive vehicle according to and integrated in the tool TASC V3.0 (second module) (Battiato, 2014).…”

Impact of different parts of skid trails on runoff and soil erosion in the Hyrcanian forest (northern Iran)

“…Road construction removes forest vegetation, disturbs the forest floor, and damages soil structure, which impressively increases soil loss (Parsakhoo et al, 2009). The severity of impacts is related to slope gradient (Dyrness, 1965;Qinsen and Shuren, 1994), vegetation cover (Cerdà, 2007;Lee et al, 2013), mechanical pressure (Battiato et al, 2013), seasonality and rainfall intensity , soil texture and moisture content at the time of construction (Croke et al, 2001;Gokturk et al, 2006;Pinard et al, 2000;Swift, 1984). Compaction of the roadbed largely explains the variety and intensity of erosion processes (Arnáez et al, 2004).…”