Traction Performance Research Articles

INTERFERENCE OF THE NUMBER OF REMOTE CONTROL VALVES IN USE ON THE ENERGY PERFORMANCE OF AN AGRICULTURAL TRACTOR WITH PRODUCTIVITY MANAGEMENT

ABSTRACT The hydraulic remote control system allows the transfer of energy from the engine through a flow of hydraulic oil to engines and implements pulled by agricultural tractors, which can interfere with its energy and operational performance. This study aimed to evaluate the interference of the number of remote control valves in use on the operational and energy performance of an agricultural tractor, using a productivity management system. The experiment was conducted in a strip-plot design, with five replications and three treatments, which consisted of the number of remote control valves in use (1, 2, or 3), totaling 15 experimental units. The results were subjected to normality and homogeneity tests and analysis of variance, followed by the Tukey test when it was significant. The highest number of valves in use interfered with the operational speed, power and efficiency on the drawbar, specific fuel consumption, and engine thermal efficiency, thus reducing the energy and operational performance of the agricultural tractor.

Development and Verification of a Simulation Model for 120 kW Class Electric AWD (All-Wheel-Drive) Tractor during Driving Operation

This study was conducted to develop a simulation model of a 120 kW class electric all-wheel-drive (AWD) tractor and verify the model by comparing the measurement and simulation results. The platform was developed based on the power transmission system, including batteries, electric motors, reducers, wheels, and a charging system composed of a generator, an AC/DC converter, and chargers on each axle. The data measurement system was installed on the platform, consisting of an analog (current) and a digital part (rotational speed of electric motors and voltage and SOC (state of charge) level of batteries) by a CAN (controller area network) bus. The axle torque was calculated using the current and torque curves of the electric motor. The simulation model was developed by 1D simulation software and used axle torque and vehicle velocity data to create the simulation conditions. To compare the results of the simulation, a driving test using the platform was performed at a ground speed of 10 km/h in off- and on-road conditions. The similarities between the results were analyzed using statistical software and we found no significant difference in axle torque data. The simulation model was considered to be highly reliable given the change rate and average value of the SOC level. Using the simulation model, the workable time of driving operation was estimated to be about six hours and the workable time of plow tillage was estimated to be about 2.4 h. The results showed that the capacity of the battery is slightly low for plow tillage. However, in future studies, the electric AWD tractor performance could be improved through battery optimization through simulation under various conditions.

The effect of the tractor driving system on its performance and fuel consumption

Improving machine performance and optimum energy usage are great importance in mechanized agriculture. The purpose of the study was to assess the tractor driving system including rear-wheel drive (RWD), four-wheel drive (4WD) and front-wheel drive (FWD) effect on the tractor performance and its fuel use during tillage operation. Then the field experiments were conducted to investigate the effect of driving system type. Moreover the tire inflation pressure of 170, 200, and 230 kPa, ballast weights of 0, 60, and 120 kg, and pulling force of 2, 6, and 10 kN on the Goldoni tractor performance were examined. The results indicated that the 4WD system had more impact on the rolling resistance than other factors. The trend of draft force represented that using the 4WD system allows achieving a higher pulling force without exceeding the allowable slip. In comparison, the FWD and RWD systems exceeded the allowable slip of the 6–10 kN draft force. At a pulling force of 2 kN, the minimum fuel consumption was corresponded to the RWD system while the maximum fuel consumption corresponded to the 4WD system. But in the pulling force of 10 kN, the situation was different and the type of driving system had a significant effect on reducing fuel consumption and the minimum fuel consumption was achieved for the 4WD system.

Evaluation of the Slip Sinkage and its Effect on the Compaction Resistance of an Off-Road Tracked Vehicle

When an off-road tracked vehicle travels, shearing action and ground sinkage occur on the soil–track interface, severely affecting the tractive performance of the vehicle. Notably, ground sinkage, which is induced by the vehicle’s weight (static sinkage) and longitudinal forces in the direction of travel producing slip (slip sinkage), develops motion resistance, directly restricting the tracked vehicle’s performance. Thus, it is critical to consider both static sinkage and slip sinkage to assess the tractive performance of a tracked vehicle. In this research, model track experiments were conducted to investigate slip sinkage. The experimental results showed that the slip sinkage increased as the slip ratio increased, but the rate of increase decreased. The slip sinkage was found to increase as the density of the ground decreased and imposed vertical load increased. The experimental results were used to calculate normalized slip sinkage, and an empirical equation for slip sinkage in terms of slip ratio was developed. This equation will allow vehicle operators to predict the slip sinkage and associated motion resistance for given soil and vehicle conditions.

Optimal selection of the linear induction motor spacing for the medium-low speed maglev vehicle

ABSTRACT Based on the one-dimensional field theory for linear induction motor (LIM), the analytical model of two adjacent series motors was built, then the relationships between spacing and traction, current, voltage, etc., were derived. The theoretical calculation results were directly verified by finite element simulation and indirectly verified by experiments. Eventually, the selection method for LIM spacing in medium-low speed maglev was proposed. The results show that the spacing affects the backward travelling wave of LIM1 (the first LIM) and the forward travelling wave of LIM2 (the second LIM), thus affects the traction of the motors; the variation range of LIM2 traction influenced by spacing can be as great as 1kN; a reasonable spacing can effectively improve the traction. The selection method of the spacing can provide technical guidance for the design of the medium-low speed maglev, and effectively improve the traction performance of the vehicles.

ANALISIS KINERJA MESIN PENGGERAK TRAKTOR PERTANIAN MODEL HST KHS 18 JTDB HASIL PERAKITAN LOKAL DI PT X

A tractor drive engine uses a production diesel engine owned by Company X that is intended to be researched on the effect of working hours that have been used for 3 years which will re-test the performance of the engine using a running test machine. Problems are limited to the analysis of the testing process and calculations that occur in the performance of the tractor drive engine. The analysis was carried out using the theory of fuel motor energy conservation to obtain results in accordance with the specifications regarding the calculation of the test results of the tractor drive engine.The analytical method used to process existing data which includes efficiency, power, torque and generated rotation. The results of the analysis and discussion can prove that the ability of the performance of the agricultural tractor driving machine to the working hours of the machine is still feasible to be used in accordance with the existing specifications so that it can be further developed in the form of mass products to meet agricultural needs.

A method for selecting parameters of the electromechanical transmission of an industrial tractor

The article describes a method for selecting the torque — speed characteristics of the drive motors and parameters of the electromechanical transmission of an industrial tractor. In order to provide the maximum performance of the tractor the transmission developed in the research has two gears:transportation range and technological range. The distinctive feature of the transmission is the use ofthe ZK tank steering systemdeveloped by the researchers of BMSTU (G.I. Zaychik, M.A. Kreynes, M.K. Kristi).The authors have studied the impact ofthe design parameter of the planetary gear sets of the ZK mechanism on the tractor performance. The torques and drive motor rotor speeds providing required performance in a turn as a functions of the planetary gear design parameter have been calculated. Also the time of the tractor full turn around its center of mass and around one braked track when the transmission operates in the transport and technological ranges has been found. An finaly, the impact of the tractor transmission parameters on the maximum tractor speed at manoeuvring has been analysed. The results of the analysis were used for selection of the electric motor output power providing a comfortable work for the tractor operator.

Design of a specialized tractor to replace draft animals in small farms

Abstract This paper describes the motivation, design, and testing of a specialized farm tractor designed to replace draft animals in small farms, particularly in rural India. The proposed tractor matches the low capital cost of draft animals and has their unique ability to operate between growing crops in narrow inter-row spaces while retaining the major advantages of conventional tractors, such as low maintenance cost and reduced operator physical effort. The proposed tractor was conceived based on user needs and our implementation of a detailed terramechanics model. This tractor has a higher drawbar pull per unit mass compared to conventional tractors – a high drawbar force is needed to match the peak pull of animals, and a low mass is necessary to reduce material and vehicle costs. This quality is achieved by applying nearly the full vehicle's weight on the drive wheels, placing drive wheels in line, and locating the tillage tool between both axles. A proof-of-physics prototype of the design was instrumented to measure drawbar pull and tire slip to validate the terramechanics model and quantify traction performance. It was capable of pulling with more drawbar force per unit mass than conventional tractors and its performance can be accurately predicted by the model. During field tests on a working farm, the vehicle successfully operated in the narrow spaces between growing crops that would typically not be accessible to a low-cost, conventional small tractor. Initial farmer feedback on the design confirmed its high potential for performing farming operations.

Determination of the traction performance of the working body of the subsoiler in the soil environment depending on the working body configuration and the selected soil model

The cultivated soil environment changes its structure and is deformed; therefore, the considered model of the processes of interaction of the working body with soil remains understudied. The influence of soil criteria on the working body behavior can be taken into account through its density and tensile strength. To describe the movement of the soil near the leg during finite deformations, a plastic medium model proposed by academician Kh.A. Rakhmatulin and simplified equations obtained on the basis of the hypothesis of flat sections were used. It has been established that, depending on the coefficient of internal friction and soil adhesion, a zone of increased soil density can form near the working body of the cultivator, where a significant increase in resistance force is observed. The calculations were carried out based on the methods of mechanics of a deformable solid, soil mechanics, and were performed in the Maple-8 programming environment.

Mathematical Modeling and Evaluation of the Transport and Technological Module Drive Efficiency

The main reason for using heavy tractors is the high energy saturation of modern agricultural machinery. For the full engine power realization, the tractor must have high traction performance. Ballasting, the drive wheels doubling, transport and technological modules increase traction. (Research purpose) To determine the best way to increase traction. (Materials and methods) The authors calculated the propulsors pressure of the Terrion 3180 tractor loaded with ballast weights and aggregated by the MES-300 transport and technological module on the soil using mathematical modeling. It was noted that the pressure on the soil is 38 percent less when using the transport and technological module, with the same traction. (Results and discussion) The authors analyzed the design of the MES-300. It was revealed that to improve the transport and technological module operation, it was necessary to reduce weight. It was found that when using the transport and technological module to increase the tractor traction, fuel consumption increased by an average of 3 percent. The authors showed that it was possible to reduce consumption by improving the transmission, which was based on the drive axle from the T-150K tractor. They found out that the effective drive scheme was an individual drive of the drive wheels, which allowed to combine the positive sides of the differential and hard drive. They performed mathematical modeling of a transport and technological module with various types of transmission (mechanical, hydrostatic, electric). It was stated that hydrostatic transmission was the most efficient type of transmission in terms of fuel economy. (Conclusions) The authors determined that the modernization of the MES-300 through the use of a transmission with an individual drive on each wheel had positive results: a change in power and torque supplied to each wheel; reduction in kinematic mismatch and power circulation; increase fuel efficiency.

A Biomechanical Investigation of Athletic Footwear Traction Performance: Integration of Gait Analysis with Computational Simulation

Evaluations are vital to quantify the functionalities of athletic footwear, such as the performance of slip resistance, shock absorption, and rebound. Computational technology has progressed to become a promising solution for accelerating product development time and providing customized products in order to keep up with the competitive contemporary footwear market. In this research, the effects of various tread pattern designs on traction performance in a normal gait were analyzed by employing an approach that integrated computational simulation and gait analysis. A state-of-the-art finite element (FE) model of a shoe was developed by digital sculpting technology. A dynamic plantar pressure distribution was automatically applied to interpret individualized subject conditions. The traction performance and real contact area between the shoe and the ground during the gait could be characterized and predicted. The results suggest that the real contact area and the structure of the outsole tread design influence the traction performance of the shoe in dry conditions. This computational process is more efficient than mechanical tests in terms of both cost and time, and it could bring a noticeable benefit to the footwear industry in the early design phases of product development.

Development of a Real-Time Tillage Depth Measurement System for Agricultural Tractors: Application to the Effect Analysis of Tillage Depth on Draft Force during Plow Tillage.

The objectives of this study were to develop a real-time tillage depth measurement system for agricultural tractor performance analysis and then to validate these configured systems through soil non-penetration tests and field experiment during plow tillage. The real-time tillage depth measurement system was developed by using a sensor fusion method, consisting of a linear potentiometer, inclinometer, and optical distance sensor to measure the vertical penetration depth of the attached implement. In addition, a draft force measurement system was developed using six-component load cells, and an accuracy of 98.9% was verified through a static load test. As a result of the soil non-penetration tests, it was confirmed that sensor fusion type A, consisting of a linear potentiometer and inclinometer, was 6.34–11.76% more accurate than sensor fusion type B, consisting of an optical distance sensor and inclinometer. Therefore, sensor fusion type A was used during field testing as it was found to be more suitable for use in severe working environments. To verify the accuracy of the real-time tillage depth measurement system, a linear regression analysis was performed between the measured draft and the predicted values calculated using the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE) standards-based equation. Experimental data such as traveling speed and draft force showed that it was significantly affected by tillage depth, and the coefficient of determination value at M3–Low was 0.847, which is relatively higher than M3–High. In addition, the regression analysis of the integrated data showed an R-square value of 0.715, which is an improvement compared to the accuracy of the ASABE standard prediction formula. In conclusion, the effect of tillage depth on draft force of agricultural tractors during plow tillage was analyzed by the simultaneous operation of the proposed real-time tillage depth measurement system and draft force measurement system. In addition, system accuracy is higher than the predicted accuracy of 40% based on the ASABE standard equation, which is considered to be useful for various agricultural machinery research fields. In future studies, real-time tillage depth measurement systems can be used in tractor power train design and to ensure component reliability, in accordance with agricultural working conditions, by predicting draft force and axle loads depending on the tillage depth during tillage operations.

An Analytical Model for Predicting Ground Pressure under a Rigid-Flexible Tracked Vehicle on Soft Ground

Ground pressure is a significant parameter for the mobility, tractive performance, and soil compaction. In this study, an analytical model for predicting ground pressure distribution under a rigid-flexible tracked vehicle on soft ground was developed. The model considered the primary design parameters of the tracked vehicle, soil characteristics, and soil shear. The ground pressure was not uniform, and its maximum values under the roadwheels were 90.20, 103.57, and 150.14 kPa. The ground pressure was inversely proportional to the ratio of the lengths of the flexible track and rigid grouser. An experiment was conducted to verify the analytical model. The maximum error between the measured and simulated results was smaller than 8%, thereby verifying the analytical model.

Application of Soft Computing Techniques for the Analysis of Tractive Properties of a Low-Power Agricultural Tractor under Various Soil Conditions

Considering the fuel consumption and soil compaction, optimization of the performance of tractors is crucial for modern agricultural practices. The tractive performance is influenced by many factors, making it difficult to be modeled. In this work, the traction force and tractive efficiency of a low-power tractor, as affected by soil coefficient, vertical load, horizontal deformation, soil compaction, and soil moisture, were studied. The optimal work of a tractor is a compromise between the maximum traction force and the maximum tractive efficiency. Optimizing these factors is complex and requires accurate models. To this end, the performances of soft computing approaches, including neural networks, genetic algorithms, and adaptive network fuzzy inference system, were evaluated. The optimal performance was realized by neural networks trained by backpropagation as well as backpropagation combined with a genetic algorithm, with a coefficient of determination of 0.955 for the traction force and 0.954 for the tractive efficiency. Based on models with the best accuracy, a sensitivity analysis was performed. The results showed that the traction performance is mainly influenced by the soil type; nevertheless, the vertical load and soil moisture also exhibited a relatively strong influence.

Wheel/Rail Adhesion State Identification of Heavy-Haul Locomotive Based on Particle Swarm Optimization and Kernel Extreme Learning Machine

The traction performance of heavy-haul locomotive is subject to the wheel/rail adhesion states. However, it is difficult to obtain these states due to complex adhesion mechanism and changeable operation environment. According to the influence of wheel/rail adhesion utilization on locomotive control action, the wheel/rail adhesion states are divided into four types, namely normal adhesion, fault indication, minor fault, and serious fault in this work. A wheel/rail adhesion state identification method based on particle swarm optimization (PSO) and kernel extreme learning machine (KELM) is proposed. To this end, a wheel/rail state identification model is constructed using KELM, and then the regularization coefficient and kernel parameter of KELM are optimized by using PSO to improve its accuracy. Finally, based on the actual data, the proposed method is compared with PSO support vector machines (PSO-SVM) and basic KELM, respectively, and the results are given to verify the effectiveness and feasibility of the proposed method.

Test research on the adhesive and tractive performance of a wheeled tractor

In order to improve the adhesive and tractive performance of a wheeled tractor, the test schemes for the research on the influencing factors of adhesive and tractive performance are designed.The maximum tyre driving force has a linear relation with the vertical load on wheel axis, the tyre deformation displacement increases with increasing tyre driving force. The tyre adhesive performance can be improved with the increase of vertical load and the decrease of tyre pressure, the adhesive and tractive performance on the asphalt road is superior to that on the soil road. Plough resistance, resistance torque and slip coefficient increase with plough depth. When plough depth increases, vibration amplitude decreases, and vibration frequency basically remains unchanged. When slip coefficient is less than 0.05, the drawbar pull is proportional to slip coefficient; when slip coefficient is greater than 0.05, the drawbar pull remains nearly constant.

Test research on the adhesive and tractive performance of a wheeled tractor

In order to improve the adhesive and tractive performance of a wheeled tractor, the test schemes for the research on the influencing factors of adhesive and tractive performance are designed.The maximum tyre driving force has a linear relation with the vertical load on wheel axis, the tyre deformation displacement increases with increasing tyre driving force. The tyre adhesive performance can be improved with the increase of vertical load and the decrease of tyre pressure, the adhesive and tractive performance on the asphalt road is superior to that on the soil road. Plough resistance, resistance torque and slip coefficient increase with plough depth. When plough depth increases, vibration amplitude decreases, and vibration frequency basically remains unchanged. When slip coefficient is less than 0.05, the drawbar pull is proportional to slip coefficient; when slip coefficient is greater than 0.05, the drawbar pull remains nearly constant.

Development and Testing of the Power Transmission System of a Crawler Electric Tractor for Greenhouses

HighlightsBuilt a functional electric drive system of a crawler tractor for greenhouses.Properly integrated the electric components into a traditional tractor.Performed field rotary tillage, field transport, and plowing energy consumption tests to verify the correctness of the matching of the core components of the power transmission system and some performance of the prototype crawler electric tractor.Abstract. Greenhouses are among the most rapidly developing sectors of the Chinese agricultural industry, and they require considerable mechanization. Currently, the machinery used in greenhouses mainly include micro cultivators powered by internal combustion engines. The micro cultivators have various problems such as small output power, low operating efficiency, and poor quality. Also, they harm the growth environment of crops and the working environment of farmers due to gas emissions and noise. In this study, a crawler electric tractor suitable for greenhouses is proposed. It can function in small working areas and narrow working spaces. The electric tractor is suitable for towing, transportation, lifting, and power output. A power transmission system scheme was designed for the electric tractor and a parameter matching method for the core components of the power transmission system is proposed. The prototype of the electric tractor was manufactured and underwent field rotary tillage, field transport, and plowing energy consumption tests. The results of rotary tillage and transportation testing showed that the operating parameters such as the depth and width of rotary tillage and transportation speed met the design requirements, which validated the matching of core components of the power transmission system and the operating performance of the prototype crawler electric tractor. The mean rotary tillage depths of the prototype on the left side and the right side are 11.0 and 12.1 cm, respectively. The mean width is 113 cm. The mean speed of rotary tillage is 4.99 km h-1. The measured speed of the prototype in the field is within the speed demand range at gears I, II, and III. According to the results of plowing energy consumption test, the mean electrical energy consumption of plowing one mu of land was 5.60 kW h mu-1, which showed that the prototype crawler electric tractor had good economic performance. To sum up, the prototype of the electric tractor for greenhouses manufactured is economic and practical. Keywords: Electric tractor, Facility agriculture, Field test, Power transmission.

Simulation study on tractive performance of off-road tire based on discrete element method.

In order to improve the applicability and prediction accuracy of the existing simulation test methods of vehicle tractive performance on sandy soil, the off-road tire model using the discrete element method (DEM) under each operating condition is separately established in this paper. The contact parameters of DEM model are calibrated by rubber-sand friction test and soil bin test combined with corresponding simulation test. On this basis, the tire-sand simulation model is calculated under straight and inclining driving conditions, and the variation law of drawbar pull, torque, tractive efficiency and sinkage is obtained. This paper proves the feasibility of DEM simulation in studying vehicle tractive performance, and also provides a systematic parameter calibration method for improving the accuracy of DEM simulation, which is of great significance to enrich vehicle testing methods.

Magnetic field analysis of Primary Permanent Magnet Linear Motor Based on Halbach Distribution

The rail transit system driven by linear motor has outstanding advantages in climbing ability, traction performance, vibration and noise. However, with the increase of traffic travel and other situations, how to ensure that the linear motor still has a large thrust and stability in the air gap condition is the key technical problem. In order to solve this problem, three Halbach permanent magnet array structures are proposed and applied to the magnetic barrier coupled primary permanent magnet unilateral excitation linear motor (MBCPPMUELM). The finite element software is used for simulation and analysis. By comparing the harmonic distribution of air gap magnetic field of the three Halbach permanent magnet array motors, a topology structure with high magnetic field modulation effect is obtained It provides a useful reference for the further design and analysis of this kind of motor.