Influence of Soil on the Traction Performance of a 65 kW MFWD Tractor

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the influence of the mechanical behaviour of the soil surface on the traction performance and the fuel consumption of an agricultural tractor, both in qualitative and in quantitative terms, in order to increase the consciousness about the major role of the soil mechanical response in the optimisation of the energy aspects involved in the traction developed by a tractor and promote the development of new strategies to reduce costs of tillage management and improve agricultural sustainability. The traction performance of a 65 kW MFWD tractor at tyre pressures of 60 and 160 kPa was compared on four Swiss agricultural soils: a clay with corn stubbles, a clay loam with wheat stubbles, a silty loam and a loamy sand both with corn stubbles. Tests performed with a bevameter pointed out noticeable differences in the mechanical behaviour of the soils. According to such differences, the drawbar pull on the four soils was significantly disparate with differences in maximal values of about 16% at a tyre pressure of 60 kPa and up to 37% at a tyre pressure of 160 kPa. Simulations with a semi-empirical tractor-soil interaction model also showed dissimilarities in traction coefficient, motion resistance, and traction efficiency. Measurements of the fuel consumption pointed out the presence of a narrow slip range where the specific fuel consumption SFC is minimised. This range doesn’t vary significantly among the considered soils as well as with the tyre pressure and doesn’t differ very much from the range where the power delivery efficiency is maximised. The SFC differed for almost 20% among the considered soils at a tyre pressure of 60 kPa and for ca. 10% at a tyre pressure of 160 kPa. The increase in tyre pressure from 60 to 160 kPa produced an increment in SFC up to 16%. The results of this study clearly pointed out how the traction performance is a characteristic of the tractor-soil system and not of the tractor only, therefore, a proper knowledge of the soil mechanical behaviour should aid in developing strategies oriented towards reducing fossil fuel consumption.

Determination of Rational Operating Modes of Operation of Tractor Agricultural Tires

“…The study of traction efficiency is given in [1][2][3][4], where there is a significant effect of the radial load and internal pressure in the tire on the performance of tractors. The authors [1][2][3][4] note the positive effect of reducing the internal pressure from 160 kPa to 60 kPa, which is manifested in a decrease in fuel consumption to 14-16 %, an increase in traction properties by 12-30 % (at a constant tractor weight). In works [1][2][3][4], a positive effect was found during the operation of tractor tires in terms of internal pressure close to the lower limit -60 kPa.…”

“…The authors [1][2][3][4] note the positive effect of reducing the internal pressure from 160 kPa to 60 kPa, which is manifested in a decrease in fuel consumption to 14-16 %, an increase in traction properties by 12-30 % (at a constant tractor weight). In works [1][2][3][4], a positive effect was found during the operation of tractor tires in terms of internal pressure close to the lower limit -60 kPa. But the authors of [5] point to a positive effect manifested in the improvement of the environmental performance of modern tires with a decrease in pressure from 80 kPa to the recommended 60 kPa and predict its further improvement with a decrease in internal pressure to 40 kPa.…”

“…Along with this, the authors of [6] note a decrease in slipping and an increase in fuel consumption during ballasting. But in these works [1][2][3][4][5][6], the authors do not investigate the relationship of such parameters as radial load, internal tire pressure, maximum ground pressure, slip coefficient, rolling resistance, specific traction force, coefficient of adhesion weight utilization, which is fully characterize the efficiency and environmental friendliness of the tractor and determine the optimal operating modes of tractor tires.…”

Power balance of all-wheel drive mobile power vehicle

“…In recent years, researchers have increasingly used various methods for modeling rolling resistance, traction and other indicators of tractors and machines [4][5][6]. Nevertheless, obtaining a tractor power balance in the field, using modern sensors and a new generation of recording equipment, allows a more objective assessment of the processes occurring in the machine-transmission-tire-soil system [7][8][9] It is well known that the power balance of any mobile power tool moving uniformly on a horizontal surface can be written as follows:…”

Prediction of Specific Fuel Consumption of 60 HP 2WD Tractor Using Artificial Neural Networks

“…However they also reported that only at a tire pressure of 160 kPa and a slip of less than 15% is a reduction in specific fuel consumption achieved. An increase in tire pressure from 60 kPa to 160 kPa resulted in an increase in specific fuel consumption of up to 16% [10]. Ekinci et al [11] experimentally investigated the effects of three different tread profile heights, axle load and inflation pressures of a radial tire on the traction performance.…”