This master thesis deals with the influence of the type of tractor chassis on its utility properties. For the rating were used tractors John Deere 8 – series with wheel and track chassis, equipped with the same engine and gearbox, which were carried out for laboratory and field tests. The aim of laboratory tests was the exclusion of the difference in engine power of both tractors and the aim of field tests was to evaluate the drawbar properties of tractors with a different type of chassis. The reference parameter was especially drawbar pull, further drawbar power, slip and fuel consumption. Based on the tabular and graphical elaboration of the measured values were evaluated results.

In this master thesis is analyzed the current situation in the construction chassis of tractors, in addition, a methodology for evaluating the impact of influences on drawbar properties of tractors. The main objective of this work was to analyze and conclude the measured drawbar properties of selected tractor same power and weight categories with different chassis designs. Measured and calculated values were tabular and graphically presented. When evaluating the drawbar properties were determined according tractive power and slip depending on the drawbar forces.

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A drawbar pull (DP) test procedure was developed at the NASA Glenn Research Center (GRC) for testing and developing designs for off-road vehicles. The motivation was to develop a procedure that would produce repeatable results and could be replicated by other researchers. While developing the test methodology, it became apparent that there was a certain degree of scatter in the results among identical tests. In order to characterize the disparities, an experimental study was conducted consisting of systematically varying specific test parameters. The selected performance metric was the DP-TR (travel reduction) relation. The selected parameters were: 1) the starting terrain condition, 2) the distance traveled by the vehicle under an applied, constant DP force, and 3) the density of the prepared terrain. Respectively, these parameters were selected to observe: 1) how differences in the starting area, or "launch pad," would affect the resulting performance of a test, 2) if a steady-state region of performance exists and how does performance change with the distance traveled, and 3) the relationship between prepared terrain density and performance. These experiments were conducted in a dry, granular, cohesionless, silica based soil called the GRC-1 Lunar Soil Simulant. The results of these studies were that the variations in both the starting terrain condition and the distance traveled did not significantly affect performance. The relationship between performance and terrain density was that only in a region of low density was the TR constant; subsequently, the TR decreased steadily with increasing density. / Master of Science

This research has investigated the effect of tyre rutting of wheeled construction plant performance traversing in wet and deformable terrain, specifically clay and sand. The purpose was to translate the wheel rutting into performance reduction measured in drawbar-pull. The ultimate goal was to translate the power loss into practical effects on cost, time and other economic variations on construction projects that are characterised by movement of wheeled plant on long haulage deformable roads. In order to achieve this aim, mathematical modelling was deployed based on Newton’s laws of motion, principles of energy conservation and numerical integration. The model is based on a single rigid wheel because construction plant tyres are inflated to high pressure in order to support heavy loads thereby translating the flexible tyres into rigid mode. The results from the mathematical model were verified using a three stage robust verification process which included computational analysis based on two existing semi-empirical methods and real experimental data. Laboratory experiments using Mobility SF- 3713 were also used to check the validity of the results. The results from the mathematical model verify that a flexible tyre can operate in rigid mode if it encounters softer and wet ground. Results further indicate that the soil cohesion, angle of shearing resistance and moisture content play key roles in the subsequent power loss created by motion resistance. All the results from computational analysis and the experiments were found to be consistent with the mathematical model results. The study concludes that there is ample evidence to suggest that there is significant power loss associated with wheeled construction plant traversing in soft terrain which can be assessed. The study further concludes that a combination of economic decisions on variables must be considered with respect to existing ground conditions. This will considerably reduce uncertainty levels in cost and resource management on construction projects.

The ability of vehicles to traverse soft soils is an important aspect of their performance. The geological, climate and topography diversity originated, in Rio Grande do Sul, extensive areas of hydromorphic clay soils, as example, Planssoils and Gleissoils. When saturated of water, these soft soils present low loads support, difficult agricultural machinery work and limit the traverse of military wheeled vehicles. The aim of this study was to determine the limit of soil conditions for trafficability of military 6 x 6 wheeled trucks (Cascavel and Urutu), determine the ground pressure and predict the mobility condition from soil cone index (SCI) and vehicle characteristics. This study also proposed to evaluate the performance of a four wheel drive tractor in drawbar pull test and trafficability performance, to correlate the reduced tire inflation pressure and vehicle loading effect on slipping, drawbar pull, fuel consumption and mobility under different soil moisture conditions. It was found that the Cascavel military truck had a minimal ground pressure of 357 kPa and it needed SCI of 402 kPa in the critical layer for a single pass. The Urutu truck had a ground pressure of 401 kPa and required at least 431 kPa in SCI for one-way pass. The NATO Reference Mobility Model (NRMM) and Mean Maximum Pressure (MPP) predicting model underestimate the soil cone index required for these military vehicles to traverse soft-soils, however, MMP was more appropriate to predict the correct SIC for the tested vehicles. For the tractor experiment it was found that tire inflation pressure changed the ground pressure and the vehicle loading didn t change the ground surface pressure. The greatest drawbar pull were obtained at low tractor speed, reduced inflation pressure and high loading level, operating on hard ground. The lowest specific fuel consumption was obtained on hard ground, empty weight, low tire pressure and operating in high speed gear. The increase of soil moisture decreased the dynamic traction coefficient from 0.57 to 0.31 and the traction efficiency decrease from 50 to 37%. Reduced inflation tire pressure had positive effects on tractor mobility in waterlogged soils, reducing slipping and increasing traverse speed. Using height loading level had negative effect on wet soils because it require more engine power and increase the fuel consumption. / A habilidade de um veículo se locomover em solos com baixa capacidade de carga é um aspecto importante em seu desempenho. A diversidade geológica, climática e de relevo originou, no Rio Grande do Sul, extensas áreas de solos Hidromórficos argilosos, entre eles, os Planossolos e os Gleissolos. Quando saturados, estes solos apresentam baixa capacidade de suporte de carga, dificultando o trabalho de máquinas agrícolas e o deslocamento de veículos militares de roda. O presente trabalho teve por objetivo determinar as condições de solo limite para a trafegabilidade de veículos militares de roda com tração 6 x 6 (Cascavel e Urutu), determinar a pressão de contato pneu-solo e predizer a condição de mobilidade a partir índice de cone do solo (ICS) e das características do veículo. O trabalho também propôs avaliar o desempenho de um trator agrícola com TDA em ensaio de tração e trafegabilidade, para verificar a influência da baixa pressão interna dos pneus e a quantidade de lastro do trator sobre o patinamento dos rodados, a capacidade de tração, o consumo de combustível e a mobilidade sob diferentes condições de umidade do solo. Foi verificado que a viatura militar Cascavel exerce pressão mínima pneu-solo de 357 kPa e requer ICS de 402 kPa na camada crítica para se locomover. O veículo Urutu exerce uma pressão pneu-solo de 401 kPa e necessita de uma resistência do solo mínima de 431 kPa para o tráfego singular. Os modelos de predição de trafegabilidade de veículos militares NATO Reference Mobility Model (NRMM) e Mean Maximum Pressure (MMP) subestimam o ICS necessário para os solos estudados, porém, o modelo que mais aproximou o ICS ao requerido pelos veículos testados foi o MMP. No experimento com tratores verificou-se que a pressão interna dos pneus alterou e a adição de lastro não alterou a superfície de contato pneu-solo. Os maiores esforços na barra de tração foram obtidos em baixa velocidade de deslocamento, baixa pressão interna dos pneus e com trator completamente lastrado, operando em solo firme. O menor consumo específico de combustível foi obtido em solo firme, com trator sem lastro, baixa pressão nos pneus e operando em marcha alta. O acréscimo de umidade no solo diminuiu o coeficiente dinâmico de tração de 0,57 para 0,31 e a eficiência de tração de 50 para 37%. A utilização de baixa pressão interna nos pneus tem efeitos positivos na trafegabilidade em solos alagados, reduzindo significativamente o patinamento e aumentando a velocidade de deslocamento. A utilização de lastro no trator em condições de solo saturado tem efeito negativo, porque aumenta a demanda de potência e o consumo de combustível da operação.

This diploma thesis “Analysis of powertrain impact on pull power capacity of a tractor” is focused on evaluation of measured data gained from performance testing of tractors Claas Arion 640 for two different types of transmission. There are also discussed the measuring methods and there is detailed described the function of measured transmissions.