Compaction; Machinery Selection and Operation FarmSmart Compaction
Waterloo, Ontario
S.A. Shearer Food, Agricultural and Biological Engineering
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Trends in Ballasted Tractor Weight
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Fixed-Frame 500 hp Tractor
http://farmindustrynews.com http://www.used-fendt-tractors.com
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How big is too big?
http://www.bauerbuiltmfg.com/db-series-planters.html
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High GVW Loads at Harvest
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Agenda
Traction vs. Transport Contact and Internal Soil Pressures
Tires - Soehne (1957) Tires and Tracks - Rethmel and Harris (2013)
Traction Mechanics Proper Ballasting Yield Loss Estimation
Modeling - Klopfenstein, et al. (2015) High Resolution Yield Maps
Recent Developments Summary
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Traction vs. Transport
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Traction vs. Transport
• Device – tires or tracks that provide vertical support (mobility) and, sometimes steering capability
• Vertical Support -- arises from soil and tire deformation, soil pressure distribution, tire load capacity, and stiffness and damping characteristics of tire
• Traction Device -- powered to provide tractive capability to the vehicle (overcome rolling resistance and support draft loads)
• Transport Device -- unpowered, provides flotation and reduced rolling resistance
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Tire and Soil Deformation
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Soehne (1957) Soil Pressure Modeling
11 Source: Soehne (1957)
Soil Pressure vs. Load Concentration
12 Source: Soehne (1957)
Soil Pressure vs. Wheel Load
13 Source: Soehne (1957)
Contact Area vs. Soil Moisture
14 Source: Soehne (1957)
Track Depth and Tire Pressure
15 Source: Soehne (1957)
Soil Pressure vs. Inflation Pressure
16 Source: Soehne (1957)
Soil Pressure vs. Contact Area
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Soehne Summary
• Contact area between tire and soil is a function of soil moisture – don’t traffic wet soils.
• Contact area (tire size and numbers) affects quantity of displaced soil – more tire contact area is better.
• Majority of compaction accomplished on first pass – multiple passes not additive.
• Surface contact pressure very close to tire inflation pressure – run tires at lowest allowable pressure.
• Depth of compaction influence is a function of tire load, not tire pressure – reduce axle loads to reduce compaction.
• Multiple axles better option than multiple tires on fewer axles. • Multiple or wider tires better option for high axle loads.
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Rethmel and Harris (2013) Soil Pressure
Measurements
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Tekscan Sensor Mats
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Source: Rethmel and Harris (2013)
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Preliminary Test Setup
20 Source: Rethmel and Harris (2013)
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Sand Pit Construction
21 Source: Rethmel and Harris(2013)
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520/85R42 Footprints at Various Depths
22 Source: Rethmel and Harris (2013)
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Time-Varying Soil Pressures
23 Source: Rethmel and Harris (2013)
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Wheels vs. Tracks
24 Source: Rethmel and Harris (2013)
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Std., IF Tires and Tracks at 3.0 in. Depth
25 Source: Rethmel and Harris (2013)
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Std., IF Tires and Tracks at 7.0 in. Depth
26 Source: Rethmel and Harris (2013)
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• Based on the testing conducted it was determined that standard dual tires create more subsurface pressure compared with 1 in. wide tracks.
• Operating tires at IF conditions offer an advantage in subsurface pressure.
• Additional testing required for all traction devices for high draft loads.
• Additional testing required to determine what level of subsurface pressure correlates to measureable crop yield impact.
Rethmel and Harris Summary
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Traction Mechanics
• Empirical methods using field and/or soil bin laboratory tests of traction devices either by themselves or as part of a complete vehicle are the most used technique for assessing tractive performance by both vehicle and traction device manufacturers.
• Plots of the typical quantities (input torque T and net tractive force H) that are measured in such tests and free body diagrams illustrating the forces acting on the wheel during different portions of the test.
• Although a wheel is shown and discussed here, the same concepts apply to a tracked traction device.
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Terminology
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Tractive Efficiency
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Wheeled Tractive Efficiency
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Tractive Efficiency and Tire Pressure
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Tracks vs. Tires
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Tractive Efficiency and Soil Type
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Traction Mechanics Summary
• Tracks are more efficient than wheels. • Optimal tractive efficiency occurs at 10-15% slip for wheels and
4-10% slip for tracks. • Tractive efficiency is a function of soil type.
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Proper Ballasting
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Tire Construction
Radial Bias Ply
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Tire Parameters
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Tire Dimensions
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• Radial tire construction is substantially different from bias tire construction.
• Crossed plies of the bias tire (right) run diagonally from bead to bead.
• Carcass plies run in a radial direction from one bead to another for radial tires.
• Radial tires also have stiff belts in the tread area that restrict growth and stabilize the lugs when they contact the ground.
• Radial tires have more supple sidewalls than bias tires that, in combination with the stiff belts, provide traction and efficiency superior to bias tires.
Radial vs. Bias
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Ballasting Rules of Thumb
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Yield Loss Estimation; Modeling
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Surface vs. Sub-Surface Compaction
Source: Hakaansson and Reeder (1994) and Duiker (2004).
44 Source: Hakaansson and Reeder (1994) and Duiker (2004).
Surface vs. Sub-Surface Compaction
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𝑌𝑐𝑐 = 𝑇𝑑𝑐𝑠𝑡𝑐 0.2𝐷𝑡𝑐𝑇𝑡𝑡(5 − 𝑌𝑎𝑡𝑡) 𝑐1𝐿𝑎 + 𝑐2 + 0.1𝐷𝑠𝑐𝑇𝑠𝑡(10 − 𝑌𝑎𝑠𝑡) 𝑐1𝐿𝑎 + 𝑐2
• Ycf – yield compaction reduction factor (0.0 to 1.0)
• La – axle load (tons)
• Stf – soil type factor (0.0 to 1.0)
• c1 – compaction factor 1
• c2 – compaction factor 2
• Yatt – years after topsoil trafficking event (0 to 5)
• Yast – years after subsoil trafficking event (0 to 10)
• Dtc – topsoil depth compaction factor
• Dsc – subsoil depth compaction factor
• Ttt – topsoil tillage correction factor
• Tst – subsoil tillage correction factor
• Tdf – traction device factor (0.0 to 1.0)
Topsoil Subsoil
Empirical Yield Loss Model
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y = 0.0111x - 0.0113
y = 0.0046x - 0.1136
y = 0.0078x - 0.0624
-20%
-10%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40
Yiel
d Lo
ss (%
)
Axle Load (US Short Ton)
WET
DRY
NORMAL
Yield Loss vs. Axle Load – Corn
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Empirical Depth of Influence Model
Source: Hakaansson and Reeder (1994)
y = 5.8862x0.5013 R² = 0.9884
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
0 5 10 15 20 25
Dep
th (i
n.)
Axle Load (Tons)
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Typical Axle Loads
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Combine Traction Devices
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Compaction Problem Flow Chart
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Yield Loss Estimation; High Resolution Yield Maps
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Yield Map Resolution Enhancement
Yield Map Adjusted Map
Yield (bu/ac)
Visible V12
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Recent Developments
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IF and VF Tire Technology
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Mitas PneuTrac Tire Technology
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Proliferation of Tracks
(Source: oemoffhighway.com)
(Source: northernequipment.ca)
(Source: bourgault.com)
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Firestone RCI Series 52
y = 6.2884e0.0534x R² = 0.9992
50
60
70
80
90
100
110
40 42 44 46 48 50 52 54
Tire
OD
(in.
)
RCI Index http://www.firestoneag.com/webres/File/Tire-Info/TireInfo-RCI.pdf
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What did we learn?
Traction: 1. Need proper ballast for anticipated load (120 lb/hp for MFWA) – lowest possible
GVW for operation. 2. Need proper weight split between from and rear axles (40% front and 60% rear
for MFWA). 3. Tractive efficiency is maximized for wheel slip by tractor type (10-20% slip for
MFWA tractor). 4. Adjust ballast if slip is too high or, too low. 5. Tracks are better than wheels – higher tractive efficiency. Note: Can buy a lot of
fuel for added cost of tracks. 6. Run lowest allowable tire pressure (observe warranty) to maximize surface
contact area. 7. Radial tire construction better than bias ply – sidewalls flex allowing more
contact area. 8. IF and LF tires are great! Size options may be limited.
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What did we learn?
High GVW Loads 1. Alex load determines depth of compaction, more axles better for alleviating
compaction. 2. More tires per axle is less attractive alternative to more axles. 3. Axle loads of 10 Tons or less do minimal damage. 4. IF and LF tires are great! Size options may be limited. 5. If you are limited by row crop requirements (18.4 section width), big diameter
tires are better – more contact area. 6. Tracks are typically better than row crop tires. 7. Wide tracks better than narrow. 8. High inflation pressures lead to more serious compaction events. 9. Limit field activities in wet soils! 10. Soil movement (wheel track depth) good indication of compaction problems.
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Questions?