Traction performance simulation for mechanical front wheel drive tractors: towards a practical computer tool

Abstract

An analytical model to simulate the traction performance of mechanical front wheel drive MFWD tractors was developed at the Agroscope Reckenholz-Tänikon ART. The model was validated via several field tests in which the relationship between drawbar pull and slip was measured for four MFWD tractors of power ranging between 40 and 123 kW on four arable soils of different texture (clay, clay loam, silty loam, and loamy sand). The pulling tests were carried out in steady-state controlling the pulling force along numerous corridors. Different configurations of tractors were considered by changing the wheel load and the tyre pressure. Simulations of traction performance matched experimental results with good agreement (mean error of 8% with maximum and minimum values of 17% and 1% respectively). The model was used as framework for developing a new module for the excel application TASCV3.0.xlsm, a practical computer tool which compares different tractor configurations, soil textures and conditions, in order to determine variants which make for better traction performance, this resulting in saving fuel and time, i.e. reducing the costs of tillage management.

Spike Device with Worm Gear Unit for Driving Wheels to Improve the Traction Performance of Compact Tractors on Grass Plots

“…The difference in drawbar pull was lower at a higher wheel slip. Generally speaking, the highest difference and highest drawbar pull indicates the best tractive properties of the test tractor, as confirmed in references [47,48]. Considering the low and medium SMCs in the present study, the spikes in the active position reached the highest differences in drawbar pull in the case of the test tractor in the 3rd gear in comparison with the 1st gear, up to a slip of about 35%.…”

Effect of Soil Properties and Powertrain Configuration on the Energy Consumption of Wheeled Electric Agricultural Robots

“…RWD, FWD, and AWD versions of the robot model were created in order to compare the energy efficiency and tractive performance of different powertrain configurations. FWD has been shown to be a potentially viable option for agricultural tractors [82]. Thus, the FWD configuration was included in this study as well.…”

An Engineering Review of the Farm Tractor's Evolution to a Dominant Design

“…The model discussed in Section 3 may be used to evaluate and inform design of farm tractors. To verify the model's accuracy as implemented, in this section its outputs are compared to published data on production tractors [36] [37].…”

“…Experimental data were obtained from Battiato, Diserens, and Sartori [36] [37], where four different-sized production tractors were tested in various soil conditions. To test a tractor's drawbar pull performance, it would tow a "braking" tractor behind it via an instrumented cable.…”