Simulation of the Impact of the Plough Body Parameters, Soil Properties and Working Modes on the Ploughing Resistance

A computer algorithm has been worked out for the simulation of the operation of the plough body, the forces exerted by soil upon the operating parts and simulation of the impact of the plough body parameters, soil properties and working modes on the ploughing resistance. The main parameters of the plough body that determine the ploughing efficiency are the initial and the final lifting angles of the soil slice on the share-mouldboard surface, the angle of its horizontal generatrix, the radius of this surface and the working width of the body. From the soil properties, the greatest influence upon the draft resistance is exerted by soil hardness, density and slip resistance. The ploughing resistance depends also on the working speed and the aggregation mode with tractors. Such a way of simulation allows the assessment of the share of each partial resistance in the total resistance of the plough body and obtaining its optimal parameters for cost-efficient ploughing.

1. Introduction

It is known from our previous investigations [1]–[5], [8]–[10] that the draft resistance of ploughs depends on the body parameters, the physical and mechanical properties of soil and the working modes. However, there were not enough investigations for analytic assessment of the impact of the body parameters and the variability of soil properties on the variations in the ploughing resistance. This encumbers the calculation of the proper solution of the plough body design and raising the ploughing efficiency.