Traction performance evaluation of a 78-kW-class agricultural tractor using cone index map in a Korean paddy field. (October 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kim, Wan-Soo; Kim, Yong-Joo; Baek, Seung-Yun; Baek, Seung-Min; Kim, Yeon-Soo; Choi, Yong; Kim, Young-Keun; Choi, Il-Su
• Is Part Of: Journal of terramechanics. Volume 91(2020)
• Page Start: 285
• Page End: 296
• Publication Date: 2020-10
• Subjects: Agricultural tractor -- Traction performance -- Traction force -- Cone index -- Tillage; Trafficability -- Periodicals; Praticabilité (Routes) -- Périodiques; Trafficability; Periodicals; 629.222
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jterra.2020.08.005
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0022-4898

Abstract

Highlights: Measurement of the physical properties of soil. Measurement of tractor traction load by tillage operation. Selection and division of field sites into grids. Cone index mapping for each field site. Evaluation of traction performance using only the CI, i.e., without the slip ratio. Abstract: The cone index (CI), as an indicator of the soil strength, is closely related to the traction performance of tractors. This study evaluates the traction performance of a tractor in terms of the CI during tillage. To analyze the traction performance, a field site was selected and divided into grids, and the CI values at each grid were measured. The CI maps of the field sites were created using the measured CI. The traction performance was analyzed using the measured traction load. The traction performance was grouped at CI intervals of 400 kPa to classify it in terms of the CI. When the CI decreased, the engine speed and tractive efficiency (TE) decreased, while the engine torque, slip ratio, axle torque, traction force, and dynamic traction ratio (DTR) increased. Moreover, the DTR increased up to approximately 13%, and the TE decreased up to 9%. The maximum TE in the DTR range of 0.45–0.55 was higher than approximately 80% for CI values above 1500 kPa. The DTR and TE results obtained in terms of the CI can help efficiently design tractors considering the soil environmental conditions.