Development of Scaled Model Experimental Setup of Rotary for Evaluation of Cultivation Performance

Performance evaluation of rotary blades on cultivators is mainly conducted by performing tests on actual equipment. However, issues, such as the high cost of prototype blades and the difficulty in precise measurement, exist. Therefore, attempts are being made to use the individual element method for the evaluation of tilling operations. However, the determination of its parameters requires comparison with experimental results based on physical phenomena of soil in cultivation operations. This study aims to construct a scaled model experimental method in which torque and soil dispersal conditions can be sensed. Specifically, a 1/4-scale model experiment apparatus was developed to measure torque and three-component force, which are loads during cultivation, as well as soil dispersal, which is an index for evaluating cultivation performance.