Abstract
Analysis of the load on the tractor during field operations is critical for the optimal design of the tractor. The purpose of this study was to do a load analysis of an agricultural tractor during plowing and harrowing. First, a load measurement system was developed and installed in a 71 kW agricultural tractor. Strain-gauges with a telemetry system were installed in the shaft located between the axles and the wheels, and used to measure the torque of the four driving axles. Second, field experiments were conducted for two types of field operations (plowing, harrowing), each at two gear levels (M2, M3). Third, load analysis was conducted according to field operation and gear level. At M2 gear selection for plowing, the maximum, minimum, and average (S. D.) torque values were 13,141 Nm; 4,381 Nm; and 6,971 Nm (${\pm}397.8Nm$, respectively). For harrowing, at M2 gear selection, torque values were, 14,504 Nm; 1,963 Nm; and 6,774 Nm (${\pm}459.4Nm$, respectively). At M3 gear selection for plowing, the maximum, minimum, and average (S. D.) torque values were,17,098 Nm; 6,275 Nm; and 8,509 Nm (${\pm}462.4Nm$, respectively). For harrowing at M3 gear selection, maximum, minimum, and average (S. D.) torque values were, 20,266 Nm; 2,745 Nm; and 9,968 Nm (${\pm}493.2$). The working speed of the tractor increased by approximately 143% when shifted from M2 (7.2 km/h) to M3 (10.3 km/h); while during plow tillage and harrowing, the load of the tractor increased approximately 1.2 times and 1.5 times, respectively.
