Effect of Grouser Height on the Tractive Performance of Single Grouser Shoe under Different Soil Moisture Contents in Clay Loam Terrain

Sher Ali Shaikh,Farman Ali Chandio,Fiaz Ahmad,Mazhar Hussain Tunio,Irfan Abbas,Yaoming Li,Ma Zheng

doi:10.3390/su13031156

Sher Ali Shaikh, Farman Ali Chandio + Show 5 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/su13031156

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Abstract

The grouser height and soil conditions have a considerable influence on the tractive performance of single-track shoe. A soil bin-based research was conducted to assess the influence of grouser height on the tractive performance of single-track shoe at different moisture contents of clay loam soil. Eight moisture contents (7.5, 12, 16.7, 21.5, 26.2, 30.7, 35.8, and 38%) and three grouser heights (45, 55, and 60 mm) were comprised during this study. The tractive performance parameters of (thrust, running resistance, and traction) were determined by penetration test. A sensor-based soil bin was designed for penetration tests, which was included penetration system (AC motor, loadcell, and displacement sensor). The test results revealed that soil cohesion was decreased, and adhesion was increased after 16.7% moisture content. Soil thrust at lateral sides and bottom of grouser were increased before 16.7%, and then decreased for all the three heights but the major decrease was observed at 45 mm height. The motion resistance was linearly decreased, the more reduction was on 45 mm at 38% moisture content. The traction of the single-track shoe was decreased with a rise in moisture content, the maximum decrease was on 45 mm grouser height at 38% moisture content. It could be concluded that an off-road tracked vehicle (crawler combine harvester) with 45 mm grouser height of single-track shoe could be operated towards a moderate moisture content range (16.7–21.5%) under paddy soil for better traction.

Highlights

The test results of soil reaction force and sinkage were obtained by penetration test with two different sized plates for eight levels of moisture contents (7.5, 12, 16.7, 21.5, 26.2, 30.7, 35.8, and 38%, respectively) (Figures 6–9)
Obtained results showed the comparative trend over both penetration plates at all the moisture contents
F2 results were shown in Figure 17, the results indicated that the thrust was increased with a rise in moisture content until 16.7%, and slowly decreased with further increase in moisture content, the maximum thrust of F2 was (8.867 KN) observed for 60 mm height at

Summary

Introduction

Tracked vehicles have been popularized because of more contact area with the ground, which leads to better float and traction than wheeled vehicles, making them suitable for rough and relatively saturated terrain. Tractive performance of tracked vehicles including propulsion and resistance is very important for terrain trafficability and is influenced by vehicle and soil factors [2]. Grousers are devices intended to increase the traction of the continuously tracked vehicle on soil or snow; this is done by increasing contact with the ground with teeth equipped on crawler tracks, similar to conventional tire treads; usually, grousers are made up of hardened forged steel. The soil-track interaction tool includes two aspects: forces arising at the interface between the soil and the tool, such as thrust, lateral force, and vertical force and displacement of soil particles known as soil disturbance [3,4]. The proper design and selection of soil-track interaction tools depends largely on the mechanical behavior of the soils [5]

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