Contact area determination of agricultural tractor wheel with soil

Abstract

The 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.