Soil Bin Facility Research Articles

Net traction of a driven wheel as affected by slippage, velocity and wheel load

The objective was to assess the effect of velocity at three levels (i.e. 0.8, 1 and 1.2m/s), slippage at three levels (i.e. 10, 12 and 15%) and three levels of wheel load (i.e. 2, 3 and 4kN) on net traction utilizing a single-wheel tester in the soil bin facility of the Department of Agricultural Machinery of Urmia University. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was developed to verify the effectiveness of the aforementioned parameters on the objective of the study at 1% significance level. It was found that the increment of wheel load and slippage results in the increment of net traction. However, it was deduced that velocity has no significant effect on net traction.

Soil Displacement and Soil Bulk Density Changes as Affected by Tire Size

<abstract><title><italic>Abstract.</italic></title> The selection of the appropriate tire size and inflation pressure for a particular load and soil condition is a critical consideration to ensure that the effects of vehicle traffic on soil compaction are minimized and that agricultural soils are managed in a sustainable manner. This study investigated the changes in soil bulk density from soil displacement data produced by a range of combine harvester tires (680/85R32, 800/65R32, and 900/60R32) with vertical load of 10.5 t and inflation pressures in the range of 0.19 to 0.25 MPa to provide a valuable indicator for tire selection. The study was conducted in a soil bin facility using a sandy loam soil (Cottenham series) maintained at 10% (w w^-1) moisture content. Results showed that the initial density (γ) was the main factor influencing soil displacement and soil bulk density changes beneath the tires. Increased tire size and low inflation pressure reduced soil displacement and the resultant increase in soil bulk density. After a single pass of the tires over the soil, these increases were approximately 26% for a low (γ = 1.20 g cm^-3), 17% for a medium (γ = 1.40 g cm^-3), and 4% for a high (γ = 1.60 g cm^-3) initial bulk density soil, respectively. The advantages of increasing tire size and lowering inflation pressure were also reflected in the results obtained from the cone penetrometer resistance data. The tire with the highest inflation pressure (0.25 MPa) produced a significantly (p < 0.05) higher increase in soil cone index (0 to 700 mm depth range) compared with the tires with lower inflation pressures (0.19 and 0.22 MPa, respectively), particularly at the centerline of the wheeling. Linear relationships (R² ≥ 0.98) between drop cone penetration and rut depth were established; these data were subsequently related to the calculated increase in soil bulk density determined from soil displacement data. The increase in soil bulk density resulting from a single pass of a tire over the soil can be determined for a range of tire configurations and initial soil conditions with the data produced by this study.

Fuzzy logic system based prediction effort: A case study on the effects of tire parameters on contact area and contact pressure

Various methodologies of artificial intelligence have been recently used for estimating performance parameters of soil working machines and off-road vehicles. Due to nonlinear and stochastic features of soil–wheel interactions, application of knowledge-based Mamdani max–min fuzzy expert system for estimation of contact area and contact pressure is described in this paper. Fuzzy logic model was constructed by use of the experience of contact area and contact pressure utilizing data obtained from series of experimentations in soil bin facility and a single-wheel tester. Two paramount tire parameters: wheel load and tire inflation pressure are the input variables for our model, each has five membership functions. As a fundamental aspect of the fuzzy logic based prediction systems, a set of fuzzy if-then rules were used in accordance with fuzzy logic principles. 25 linguistic if-then rules were included to develop a complicated highly intelligent predicting model based on Centroid method at defuzzification stage. The model performance was assessed on the basis of several statistical quality criteria. Mean relative error lower than 10%, satisfactory scattering around unity-slope line (T), and high coefficient of determination, R2, were obtained by the fuzzy logic model proposed in this study.

A hybridized artificial neural network and imperialist competitive algorithm optimization approach for prediction of soil compaction in soil bin facility

We were inspired to furnish information concerning the promising applicability of a hybrid approach involving artificial neural networks (ANNs), with manifold network functions, and a meta-heuristic optimization algorithm for prediction of soil compaction indices. The employed network functions were the prevailed feed-forward network and the novel cascade-forward network algorithms to accommodate multivariate inputs of wheel load, tire inflation pressure, number of passage, slippage, and velocity each at three different levels for estimating the study objectives of soil compaction (i.e. penetration resistance and soil sinkage). The experimentations were carried out in a soil bin facility utilizing a single wheel-tester. Each ANN trials was developed merely and then by merging with the recently introduced evolutionary optimization technique of imperialist competitive algorithm (ICA). The results were compared on the basis of a modified performance function (MSEREG) and coefficient of determination (R2). Our results elucidated that hybrid ICA–ANN further succeeded to denote lower modeling error amongst which, cascade-forward network optimized by ICA managed to yield the highest quality solutions.

Artificial Neural Network estimation of wheel rolling resistance in clay loam soil

Despite of complex and nonlinear relationships imparting soil–wheel interactions, however, logical, non-randomized, and manifold relations tackle to express and model the interactions which are valid for variety of conditions and are likely to be established whereas mathematical equations are restricted to present. A 3-10-1 feed-forward Artificial Neural Network (ANN) with back propagation (BP) learning algorithm was utilized to estimate the rolling resistance of wheel as affected by velocity, tire inflation pressure, and normal load acting on wheel inside the soil bin facility creating controlled condition for test run. The model represented mean squared error MSE of 0.0257 and predicted relative error values with less than 10% and high coefficient of determination (R2) equal to 0.9322 utilizing experimental output data obtained from single-wheel tester of soil bin facility. These rewarding outcomes signify the fitting exploit of ANN for prediction of rolling resistance as a practical model with high accuracy in clay loam soil. Derived data revealed rolling resistance is less affected by applicable velocities of tractors in farmlands nevertheless is much influenced by inflation pressure and vertical load. An approximate constant relationship existed between velocity and rolling resistance implying that rolling resistance is not function of velocity chiefly in lower ones. Increase of inflation pressure results in decrease of rolling resistance while increase of vertical load brings about increase of rolling resistance which was measured to be function of vertical load by polynomial with order of two model validated by conventional models such as Wismer and Luth model.

A knowledge-based Mamdani fuzzy logic prediction of the motion resistance coefficient in a soil bin facility for clay loam soil

A rule-based Mamdani max–min fuzzy expert system for prediction of coefficient of motion resistance (CMR) is presented. Owing to nonlinear characteristic of soil–wheel interactions, application of fuzzy rule-based models for determination of CMR is instrumental. We were encouraged to apply fuzzy logic approach for the modeling by use of the experience of induced CMR as affected by tire inflation pressure, velocity, and wheel load to be practically applicable with wide range of unknown nonlinear systems. Employment of fuzzy if–then true rules makes it possible to handle ill-defined and nonlinear arrangements and gives higher privilege over conventional methods. Therefore, of aforementioned rules, 27 if–then true rules were incorporated to develop a sophisticated highly intelligent representation based on centroid method for defuzzification stage preceded by Mamdani max–min inference supposition. The model performance was evaluated on the basis of various statistical criteria and also was compared to a conventional model. Mean relative error lower than 10 %, good scattering around line (1:1), and high coefficient of determination (R 2 = 99 %) obtained by the fuzzy logics model are confirmed.

Application of artificial neural networks for the prediction of traction performance parameters

This study handles artificial neural networks (ANN) modeling to predict tire contact area and rolling resistance due to the complex and nonlinear interactions between soil and wheel that mathematical, numerical and conventional models fail to investigate multivariate input and output relationships with nonlinear and complex characteristics. Experimental data acquisitioning was carried out using a soil bin facility with single-wheel tester at seven inflation pressures of tire (i.e. 100–700kPa) and seven different wheel loads (1–7KN) with two soil textures and two tire types. The experimental datasets were used to develop a feed-forward with back propagation ANN model. Four criteria (i.e. R-value, T value, mean squared error, and model simplicity) were used to evaluate model’s performance. A well-trained optimum 4-6-2 ANN provided the best accuracy in modeling contact area and rolling resistance with regression coefficients of 0.998 and 0.999 and T value and MSE of 0.996 and 2.55×10−12, respectively. It was found that ANNs due to faster, more precise, and considerably reliable computation of multivariable, nonlinear, and complex computations are highly appropriate for soil–wheel interaction modeling.

Lunar Excavation Experiments in Simulant Soil Test Beds: Revisiting the Surveyor Geotechnical Data

The establishment of permanent bases on planetary surfaces is an important long-term goal of the space community. Understanding the geotechnical properties of planetary surfaces and their interaction with tools and implements will be essential in addressing the challenges of material-handling equipment for infrastructure development during surface missions. With this aim, a replica of the soil mechanics surface sampler, an extendable scoop with a bearing plate attachment, operated on some of the lunar Surveyor missions in the 1960s, was fabricated and used in a series of simulated bearing and excavation tests. Initially, a set of tests was performed on a small laboratory test stand using an acrylic soil bin with a 30.5×33.0-cm footprint. Subsequent tests were performed in a new large-scale soil bin facility (2.27×5.94×0.76 m) to minimize wall effects. Both test setups involved the use of JSC-1a lunar simulant soil beds and motorized actuators to drive the scoop into the simulant. Emphasis was placed on methods of repeatable soil bin preparation. The scoop was attached to a commercial six-axis load cell that provided time-resolved measurements of the three-dimensional forces and torques. In addition, simultaneous video provided detailed imaging of the flow behavior and surcharge formation of the regolith during excavation. A surface-profiling technique was developed to resolve the surface deformation as the scoop penetrated and trenched the simulant. Bearing test data in loose bed preparations in both bins compared well with the Surveyor flight data. The data also included the soil response under compacted soil conditions.

Contact Area Determination of Agricultural Tractor Wheel with Soil

Contact Area Determination of Agricultural Tractor Wheel with SoilThe study is established based on contact area determination of tractor wheel. The significance of contact area in domain of wheel-soil interactions is considerable. Requirement for contact area estimations has prompted the researchers to determine numerous theoretical models. In this study, an experimental test was conducted inside a soil bin facility providing entirely reliable and controlled condition for the test. The soil bin included a carriage, a single wheel-tester and a frame. The utilized tire was a towed Good year 9.5L-14, 6 radial ply agricultural tractor tire which is used in John Deere tractors This test has the advantage of utilizing images taken of the contact areas and subsequently, using a plantimeter to obtain the values of contact area precisely. Test variables were the two most prominent and influential parameters i.e. tire inflation pressure in three levels (i.e. 100, 150, and 290 kPa) and vertical load applied on wheel in three levels (i.e. 1962, 2943, and 3924 N). The acquired results revealed that there is an increase in contact area induced by increase of vertical load and decrease of contact pressure. Contact area is shown to be highly influenced by vertical load in reduced tire inflation pressures.

Design of a slurry injector for use in a growing cereal crop

Soil injection of animal slurry is increasingly being used to mitigate odour and ammonia (NH 3) emissions, but in order to perform injection in fields with growing cereal crops, injectors that have a greater working width than the existing equipment are needed. To reduce crop damage, a disc injector can be used, but due to the need for a high vertical load a simple tine is used in conjunction with the discs, to penetrate the soil more easily. This study investigates how to reduce horizontal and vertical forces when operating the combination of a double disc and tine injector. An experimental force-measuring system was built with the purpose of making simultaneous force measurements in both field and soil bin studies. Two experiments were carried out in a soil bin facility in order to find the optimal placement of the tine in relation to the discs and the best working depths for the tine and discs. A field study was also done to evaluate the amount of crop damage caused by operating a prototype injector in a growing winter wheat crop. The measuring system was found to provide very reliable data. To reduce horizontal and vertical forces, as well as crop damage, it was found that running the double discs at approximately 40 mm and the tine at 100 mm below the soil surface gave the best results. The tine should be placed as close as practically possible to the discs, with a rake angle of 40°. At this adjustment the horizontal force demand was reduced to 30–40% of what has been reported for comparable injectors.

Development of Overhead Gantry as Complementary Equipment to Indoor Soil Bin Facility

Development of Overhead Gantry as Complementary Equipment to Indoor Soil Bin Facility

DEVELOPMENT OF A VACUUM PRECISION SEEDER PROTOTYPE FOR ONION SEEDS

The purpose of this study was to develop, construct and test a vacuum precision seeder prototype suitable for onion seeds. The developed prototype was fabricated from local materials (Stainless Steel 304). It was also designed to plant two rows with 70 mm apart instead of one row as the most onion vacuum seeders in the market. Tests were conducted at an indoor soil bin facility under different operational parameters. These parameters were three seed plates with different hole diameters (0.8, 1.0 and 1.2 mm), four levels of disc speeds (peripheral velocity of seed plate) (0.08 (7.3), 0.14 (12.5), 0.21 (18.7) and 0.28 m/s (24.4-rpm)), four levels of blower speeds (4000, 4500, 5000 and 5500-rpm) and three level of forward speeds (2.7, 3.6 and 5.3 km/h). Measurements were taken for the actual seed spacing, seed miss index, seed multiple index, quality of feed index, precision in spacing and the vacuum pressure in the hole. Results indicated that the optimum values of the actual seed spacing (5.93 mm), seed miss index (8.1%), seed multiple index (8.12%), quality of feed index (83.7%), precision in spacing (23.4%) and the vacuum pressure in the hole (4.75 kPa.) were obtained with the seed plate of 1.0 mm hole diameter. Results of statistical analysis showed that the most desirable conditions in terms of operating developed prototype were obtained with the seed plate of 1.0 mm hole diameter at 0.21 m/s (18.7-rpm) disc speed, 4500-rpm blower speed and at 3.6 km/h forward speed. It also indicated that there was no appreciable difference between the two rows of the developed prototype under different operational conditions.

Effects of elevated atmospheric CO2 on root dynamics and productivity of sorghum grown under conventional and conservation agricultural management practices

Abstract Although it is widely acknowledged that rising atmospheric CO2 concentrations will increase crop root growth, no study has considered how this response could be influenced by agricultural management practices. Therefore, we examined the influence of elevated atmospheric CO2 (ambient + 360 μmol mol−1) on root dynamics of sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) produced under conventional (tillage following winter fallow) and conservation (no-till following clover (Trifolium repens) winter cover crop) agricultural management practices. Crops were grown in an outdoor soil bin facility and CO2 treatments were administered using open-top field chambers (OTC). Root dynamics were analyzed using minirhizotrons. In conventional tillage plots, CO2-enrichment increased sorghum seasonal root production and mortality by 58 and 59%, respectively. Root growth, however, was unaffected by [CO2] in conservation plots. Growth in CO2-enriched atmospheres increased residue production by 15 and 11% in conventional and conservation plots, respectively. Grain production was 6% greater in the conservation than conventional plots but was unaffected by atmospheric CO2. Neither carbon dioxide nor management practices had any impact on the proportion of roots that died by physiological maturity (i.e., root turnover). The fraction of roots that had died by physiological maturity decreased in a linear fashion from shallow to greater soil depths. Although management did not affect cumulative seasonal root production or mortality it did influence vertical root distribution; conservation management favored shallow root systems whereas conventional management favored deeper rooting. Data emphasize the importance of quantifying production and mortality as separate processes. This study suggests that conversion from conventional to conservation management practices might diminish stimulation of rooting by rising atmospheric CO2, at least in the C4 crop sorghum.

Real-time measurement of cone index in a soil bin

A personal computer-based measurement and control system for a hydraulic powered penetrometer developed as an integral part of a soil bin facility is described with respect to its construction, accuracy, repeatability and versatility. The system can, for example, measure and display cone index versus depth graphically in real time or at the end of the experiment. It can be operated in an automatic mode, enabling only one operator to quickly acquire, analyze and store large quantities of data, thus saving experimental time. Sample data is given from a system that is used to assess soil strength before and after experiments on soil-tool interactions in a laboratory soil bin.

Experimental evaluation of cutting dynamic models in soil bin facility

Computer Aided Engineering methods in earthmoving machines design and their automation require the development of soil-cutting models. These models both in two or three dimensions, static or dynamic, fitted for frictional or cohesive soils, must be mutually compatible and must function with soil transportation models and with machine locomotion characteristic models. In this work two different methods of soil cutting have been evaluated, both of them based on the classical wedge method, in order to verify their applicability to test conditions in the new soil bin facility of CEMOTER. From experimental results the possibility of using dynamic models of soil cutting in the frequency domain is discussed, to improve earthmoving machinery performance by automation and implementation of open and closed-loop control. After a preliminary analysis of a plane blade under different test conditions in sandy soil, soil cutting theoretical models of a simple implement are compared with respective scale models by tests performed in a soil bin facility at various operating speeds and depths, in order to investigate their applicability and the dynamic behaviour of the soil cutting force.