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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Auburn, Alabama » Soil Dynamics Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #322474
Title: Traction and braking force on three surfaces of agricultural tire lug

Author
item SHAO, MINGLIANG - Iwate University
item KISHIMOTO, TADASHI - Obihiro University Of Agriculture And Veterinary Medicine
item SATOW, TADATOSHI - Obihiro University Of Agriculture And Veterinary Medicine
item TAKEDA, JUNICHI - Iwate University
item Way, Thomas - Tom

Submitted to: Engineering in Agriculture, Environment and Food
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/10/2016
Publication Date: 2/22/2017
Citation: Shao, M., Kishimoto, T., Satow, T., Takeda, J., Way, T.R. 2017. Traction and braking force on three surfaces of agricultural tire lug. Engineering in Agriculture, Environment and Food. 10:39-47.

Interpretive Summary: Traction of agricultural tires on soil is important for efficient operation of tractors and other vehicles in fields. Also, soil compaction is an important aspect of agricultural tires, as compaction often limits crop roots from reaching more soil to access water and nutrients, and reduces rates of water infiltration into soil, causing increased soil erosion. Traction and soil compaction are affected by pressures and tangential stresses on the tire tread at the soil-tire interface. Lugs are the raised bars on the tire tread and are important in developing traction in loose and moist soil conditions. Pressure sensors were mounted in the leading side and trailing side of a lug of a radial-ply tractor drive tire. A tri-axial force transducer for measuring forces at the soil-tire interface was mounted on the lug face which is the periphery of the lug surface. Soil-tire interface stresses were measured on the lug face and the leading side of the lug when the tire developed traction for forward motion and developed positive slip, as would be typical when a tractor pulls a tillage implement such as a plow. Braking forces were measured on the lug face and the trailing side of the lug when the tire developed traction resisting forward motion and developed negative slip, as may occur when a powered implement such as a rotary tiller is pushing forward on the tractor. Relationships between stresses on the lug surfaces and the soil reaction were determined.

Technical Abstract: The objective of this research was to determine the performance of an agricultural tractor drive tire on soil and in particular, to investigate performance aspects of tire lugs. A 160/85R14 radial-ply tractor drive tire was used. Pressure sensors were mounted in the leading lug side and the trailing lug side, and tri-axial force transducers were mounted in the lug face. Soil-tire interface stresses were measured on the lug face and the leading side of the lug at positive slip. Braking forces were measured on the lug face and the trailing side of the lug at negative slip. Relationships between stresses on the lug surfaces and the soil reaction were determined.