Numerical Study of the Tillage Forces on Soil Plows

The industrial drainage plow is a mechanized tool used for the installation of agricultural drainage and land reclamation. A large machine controls the depth and angle of the mole to determine the grade and depth of the tile for piping or cable to be installed. The plow is used for agricultural drainage, trenching, and installation of underground cable ducts. To make the industrial partner’s plow more competitive in the industry, this research aims to optimize the plow’s shape for various soil conditions to increase the tile installation speed and to reduce the drag force, which will reduce the fuel consumption. Numerical methods will be used in this study to predict the tillage forces on the plow. The numerical models will be validated by comparing the numerical results with available experimental data. Numerical simulations will be carried out for the plowing processes under different working conditions with different plow shapes. Also, the load distribution on the mole will be obtained based on the numerical results, which will allow the optimization of the structural components of the machine to make the machine more efficient and more durable.

Faculty Supervisor:

Chao Zhang

Student:

Partner:

Wolfe Heavy Equipment

Discipline:

Engineering

Sector:

Manufacturing

University:

The University of Western Ontario

Program: