Reliability-based design for soil tillage machines

Using classical design methods for tillage machines does not completely guarantee a safety and satisfactory performance, due in part to the randomness of tillage forces. This randomness is derived from the variability in soil engineering properties and the variations in tool design parameters and operational conditions. In this paper, a reliability-based design approach was developed, for the first time, by integrating the randomness of tillage forces into the design analysis of tillage machines, aiming at achieving reliable machines. The proposed approach was based on the uncertainty analysis of basic random variables and the failure probability of tillage machines. The failure probability was estimated according to two performance criteria related to the structural design requirement and the quality of tillage operation. Two reliability methods, namely the Monte Carlo simulation technique and the first-order reliability methods were used for this purpose. This approach was implemented for the design of a chisel plough shank.The results showed that there were many values of the shank dimensions that guaranteed the required reliability level. However, in order to achieve the best design solution from an economic point of view, minimizing the volume of the shank structure was integrated into the reliability-based design approach. This led to the reduction of the initial volume of the shank structure by 6.86%. It was concluded that integrating the economical constraint into the reliability-based design approach can lead to optimal designs of tillage tools that ensures the required reliability level at low cost.     

Integrated soil tillage force prediction models

This paper describes the integration of a series of models to predict the forces acting on a range of tillage tools from simple plane tines to mouldboard ploughs. The results show that the horizontal (or draught) and vertical forces can be predicted with average errors of −3% and +33%, with the majority of the predicted values within ±20% and ±50% of the measured values respectively. The models adequately reflect the changes in soil strength and implement geometry. All of the predicted values given have been estimated using a spreadsheet based model which is freely available.     

Modelling the cracks produced by settlements in masonry structures

The present work is concerned with the prediction of the crack pattern produced by given kinematical data (settlements/distortions) in masonry constructions. By adopting the simplified model of Heyman, extending it to masonry structures treated as continuous bodies, we restrict the analysis to the search of displacement fields which are piecewise rigid. Restricting to small strains and displacements we look for the solution of the kinematical problem by minimizing the potential energy of the structure. A variational approximation of the minimum problem is obtained by considering a fixed finite element subdivision of the structure into rigid blocks. Two case studies are presented to illustrate the way in which a particular fracture pattern can be identified as the one associated to the minimum of the energy in this restricted class of piecewise rigid displacements.     

A model of stress distribution and cracking in cohesive soils produced by simple tillage implements

The objective of this research was to describe the mechanical behavior of soil under the action of a tillage tool, with the purpose of finding a relation between the tool geometry and the resultant soil structure. The problem was solved using fundamental principles of soil mechanics and force equilibrium analysis. As a result, a mathematical model was developed which describes three stress zones within the cut soil volume: shear failure, tension failure, and no internal failure. The model was programmed into a computer to generate maps of normal and shear stresses to visualize the three failure zones. The model was tested by cutting soil with flat tillage tools in a laboratory soil bin, and it proved to provide reliable predictions of the pattern of soil shear and tension failure.     

Laboratory investigations into soil failure under vibratory tillage tools

Experiments were conducted to study the soil failure and soil disturbance of sandy loam soil under vibratory tillage tools in a soil bin. The experimental results showed a brittle failure characteristic with a crescent shaped soil failure area. There were cracks in radial and transverse directions in the crescent shaped failure area. Two main zones (deep layer and near surface) of soil disturbance were observed due to the action of the vibratory tool. It was observed that the size of soil fragment decreased with increase in velocity ratio.     

Predicting soil fragmentation during tillage operation using fuzzy logic approach

One of the main characteristics of the soil structure, which affects the plant growth and its yield, is its aggregates size. Correct tillage operations leads to prevention from soil degradation and help to maintain and improve its physical, chemical, and biological characteristics. In this paper, a model based on fuzzy logic approach was used to describe the soil fragmentation for seedbed preparation in the composition of primary and secondary tillage implements of subsoiler, moldboard plow and disk harrow as conventional tillage composition in the region. Field experiments were carried out at educational and research farms of faculty of agriculture, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili. In this paper, an intelligent model, based on Mamdani approach fuzzy modeling principles, was developed to predict soil fragmentation during tillage operation. The model inputs included soil moisture content, tractor forward speed and soil sampling depth. The fuzzy model consisted of 50 rules, in which three parameters of root mean square error (RMSE), relative error (ɛ), and coefficient of determination (R²) were used to evaluate the fuzzy model. These parameters were calculated 0.167%, 3.95%, and 0.988%, respectively. According to the results of this research, the fuzzy model can be introduced as one of the methods for predicting soil fragmentation during the tillage operation with high accuracy.     

Prediction of soil structures produced by tillagePrédiction des structures du sol produites par labourageVoraussage der durch bodenbearbeitung erzeugten bodenstrukturen

A statistical method for describing the distribution of aggregates and voids within tilled soil is used as the basis for a prediction technique. Transforms of aggregate-void and void-void transition probabilities are used in such a way that factors can be defined which describe how the soil structure differs under a range of circumstances. A standard structure is defined for a given soil as that which is produced at the 5 cm depth by one pass of a set of tines working at 10 cm depth when tillage is done at a speed of 1.4 m/s in soil at a water content equal to the plastic limit and which has previously grown a cereal crop. Factors are defined which describe deviations from this standard structure as a function of depth in the tilled layer, implement type, previous use of the soil, number of implement passes, water content at time of tillage, and subsequent compaction of thettilled layer. Application of the inverse transform then enables estimates of the distributions of aggregates and voids in the tilled layer to be predicted for required, specified conditions.     

Prediction of clay soil compaction

Field measurements were made of soil density and moisture patterns under different vehicle tire paths with varying external pressures and number of passes. In addition, laboratory index tests were performed to determine the compaction behaviour of the same soil. Using these results, a prediction equation of dry density in terms of applied pressure and moisture content was obtained for the clay soil. A previously developed equation for sandy soil was modified for the complete range of moisture contents encountered. Estimation of shear strength for the clay soil was made using plastic and liquid limits.     

LARGE-SCALE VORTICAL STRUCTURES PRODUCED BY AN IMPINGING DENSITY JET IN SHALLOW CROSSFLOW

The large-scale vortical structures produced by an impinging density jet in shallow crossflow were numerically investigated in detail using RNG turbulence model. The scales, formation mechanism and evolution feature of the upstream wall vortex in relation to stagnation point and the Scarf vortex in near field were analyzed. The computed characteristic scales of the upstream vortex show distinguished three-dimensionality and vary with the velocity ratio and the water depth. The Scarf vortex in the near field plays an important role in the lateral concentration distributions of the impinging jet in crossflow. When the velocity ratio is relatively small, there exists a distinct lateral high concentration aggregation zone at the lateral edge between the bottom layer wall jet and the ambient crossflow, which is dominated by the Scarf vortex in the near field.     

Relationships of field traffic and tillage to corn yields and soil properties

Esperiements were conducted during the summer of 1979 in which field plots oon s Ste. Rosalie clay soil and a Ste. Amable sandy loam soil were subjected to different levels of compaction by machinery, and subsequently treated by moldboard plowing and discing, chiselling and subsoiling by a winged tool. A silage corn crop was grown on all plots and measurements were made of soil bulk densities, penetration resistance of soils and plant yields. The results indicated that the compaction of the soil, if not subsequently loosened by a tillage operation, caused a marked reduction in plant yields. A nnarrow range of dry bulk density produced the optimum silage corn yields in the two experimental soils. The soil densities in this range were obtained by any of the three tillage treatments, as well as by the rototiller treatment, without machinery traffic.     

A non-linear 3-D finite element analysis of soil failure with tillage tools

A non-linear 3-D finite element model was developed to study the soil failure under a narrow tillage blade. The weighted residual method was applied to formulate the finite element model. The Duncan and Chang hyperbolic stress-strain model was used in the analysis. This finite element model also takes into account friction at the soil-tool interface, and progressive and continuous cutting. A FORTRAN program was written to carry out the finite element analysis. The results provided soil forces, a progressive developed failure zone, displacement field and stress distribution along the tool surface. Tillage were conducted in the laboratory soil bin to verify soil forces from the finite element analysis. The comparison between the results from the finite element model and those from the soil bin tests was reasonably good.     

Fuzzy knowledge-based model for prediction of soil loosening and draft efficiency in tillage

A knowledge-based system for assessing soil loosening and draft efficiency in tillage is presented. The knowledge-based system was built through expert opinion elicitation and available scientific data using fuzzy logic. It is expected that such a non-linear relationship includes some uncertainties. A fuzzy inference system employing fuzzy If-Then rules has an ability to deal with ill-defined and uncertain systems. Compared with traditional approaches, fuzzy logic is more efficient in linking the multiple inputs to a single output in a non-linear domain. The main purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between cultivator shares working parameters to soil loosening and draft efficiency, and to illustrate how fuzzy expert system might play an important role in prediction of these. Experimental values were taken in soil bin. The trials were conducted in different working depths and forward velocities of cultivator shares. In this paper, a sophisticated intelligent model, based on Mamdani approach fuzzy modeling principles, was developed to predict the changes in soil loosening and draft efficiency of tool. The fuzzy model consists of 25 rules. In this research, a Mamdani max-min inference for inference mechanism and the center of gravity (Centroid) defuzzifier formula method for defuzzification were used as these operators assure a linear interpolation of the output between the rules. The verification of the proposed model is achieved via various numerical error criterias. For all parameters, the relative error of predicted values was found to be less than the acceptable limits (10%).     

Prediction of paddy soil normal adhesion to steel surfaces by fuzzy logic

Numerous data concerning paddy soil composition, water content and soil-steel normal adhesion were collected in South China during 1974-1983. The fuzzy logic relation of adhesion with clay content and water content was derived, by which paddy soil adhesion to steel surfaces was predicted if soil composition and water content were known.     

地面和埋置爆炸土中地冲击作用分区数值模拟及试验研究

为研究爆炸条件下土中应力波的时空分布,基于黄土中接触爆炸和半埋爆炸试验,验证了ANSYS/AUTODYN软件建立的计算模型,并在此基础上开展了土中爆炸地冲击效应研究。结果表明:随着土介质深度的增加,感生地冲击峰值减小,而直接地冲击峰值增大,最终,压力和竖向应力时程曲线中的2个峰值减少为1个峰值,据此特征可将土中应力波场分为3个区域,即地表区、近地表区和中心区;当装药比例埋深为-0.05～0.075 m/kg^1/3时,随着装药比例埋深的增大,中心区迅速扩大,地表区迅速缩小,近地表区逐渐扩大;当装药比例埋深为0.1～0.4 m/kg^1/3时,地冲击作用区的分布趋于稳定;爆炸耦合进入空气和土介质中的动能受炸药类型影响,但在一定范围内,地冲击作用区角度与地面空气冲击波超压冲量和直接地冲击应力冲量之比呈线性相关关系。     

Prediction of soil reaction forces on a moldboard plow surface

Using mathematical models, approximate trajectories of soil furrow subslices were determined and the forces occurring on the moldboard surface were calculated. The various components of the normal force along the trajectory line of the middle section of the furrow slice were analysed in relation to the velocity of plowing operation and the curvature of the path. The soil reaction forces encountered by the share portion of the plow were also determined by a model which used the method of trial wedges to determine the angle of the failure surface with the horizontal. The sum of the calculated forces was compared with that obtained by actual plowing experiments performed in the laboratory.