Modeling soil-metal sliding resistance

Authors: ROBBINS, DONALD - Auburn University; JOHNSON, CLARENCE - Auburn University; SCHAFER, ROBERT - Retired ARS Employee; Way, Thomas - Tom

Submitted to: Transactions of the ASABE
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/12/2020
Publication Date: 3/10/2021
Citation: Robbins, D.H., Johnson, C.E., Schafer, R.L., Way, T.R. 2021. Modeling soil-metal sliding resistance. Transactions of the ASABE. 64(2):435-446. https://doi.org/10.13031/trans.13978.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.13031/trans.13978

Interpretive Summary: Many types of metal machine components interact with soil and these interactions typically involve sliding of the components on soil. Examples include tillage implements such as chisel plows, cultivators, and moldboard plows, and construction equipment such as bulldozer blades, trencher shanks, and track shoes of tracked vehicles. Equations describing the sliding resistance of metal on soil are important in the design and development of efficient components. In the past, few studies have attempted to formulate quantitative mathematical relationships between soil-material sliding resistance and the type of material sliding on the soil, the normal stress (pressure) between the material and the soil, the length of sliding of the material relative to the soil, and the soil physical properties. Also, few studies in the past have mathematically expressed the relative contributions of the frictional and adhesive components to the total sliding resistance. In this research, an equation was developed to express the components of soil-metal sliding resistance for a clay soil as functions of applied normal stress (pressure) and sliding path length. The model is restricted to soil containing enough moisture to exhibit cohesive strength (soil particles sticking together), but not so much moisture to exhibit gross plastic (permanent deformation) behavior. The equation is expected to be useful in the design and development of soil-engaging equipment including agricultural and construction equipment, and in promoting the accuracy and usefulness of simulation for equipment development.

Technical Abstract: Most past soil-material sliding resistance studies have focused on the measurement and formulation of only qualitative relationships between sliding resistance and the material type, applied normal stress, sliding path length and/or soil-properties. Few studies have attempted to formulate quantitative mathematical relationships between soil-material sliding resistance and these factors, or to mathematically express the relative contributions of the frictional and adhesive components to the total sliding resistance. A mathematical model was developed to express the components of soil-metal sliding resistance for a clay soil as functions of applied normal stress and sliding path length. The model is restricted to soil containing enough moisture to exhibit cohesive strength, but not so much moisture to exhibit gross plastic behavior. Soil-metal sliding resistance data, different than those used to develop the model, were acceptably simulated.