Measurement Of Soil Resistance To Plate Penetration And Its Application For Determination Of Design Parameters Of A Lug Wheel

Abstract

The measurement of the soil resistance of paddy fields to plate penetration has been carried out at two locations with different soil characteristics using a penetrometer with the tip of the plate at several penetration angles to a depth of 20 cm. The soil resistance data is applied in the analysis for determination of lug tilt angle, lug size, number of lugs and wheel diameter of a lug wheel designed for plowing at both locations using local hand tractors. Measurement results show that with a plate tilt angle of 45°, produced the highest soil reaction forces, both in the horizontal and vertical directions, so that the lug inclination angle is necessary set to 45°, when lugs receive peak load. For fields with deep hard pans, soil resistance tends to increase sharply at a depth of 0-10 cm and at a depth of 15-20 cm. Soil resistance at a depth of 15-20 cm at a penetration angle of 90° was 60 kPa. For this location the optimum number of lugs is 14, the lug width is 8 cm, lug length is 35 cm and lug wheel diameter is 85 cm. For fields with shallow hard pans, the soil resistance increased sharply from 6 cm to 20 cm depth. Soil resistance at a depth of 15-20 cm at a penetration angle of 90° over 90 kPa. For this location the optimum number of lugs is 14, the lug width is 10 cm, lug length is 35 cm and wheel diameter is 85 cm.