Force Measurements on Driven Discs

Experiments were carried out under controlled conditions in a soil bin containing sandy-loam soil to study the effects of varying the speed ratio (ratio of peripheral disc speed to forward speed), disc angle and tilt angle settings, on the performance of adriven disc. The hydraulically powered disc provided speed ratios from ?3 (backward) through approximately 1 (free wheeling) to 6 (forward). Disc angles were varied from 20 to 65°, from the direction of travel, and tilt angles from ?15 to 30° with respect to the vertical. It was observed that there was a major reduction in draught force and specific draught resistance in all cases when disc speed increased from freely rotating to forward speed ratios of approximately 3. Driving a disc in the reverse direction reduced penetration resistance at certain angle settings. Backward-driven discs were also found to reduce side forces on the concave side of the disc and increase those on the convex side. Total power consumption and specific total power increased significantly when the disc was driven in either direction. The angle setting also affected the driven-disc performance. The optimum angle setting in terms of minimizing force and power requirements occurred at a disc angle between 35 and 50° with approximately 0° tilt angle. Observations of soil disturbance showed that driving a disc either backward or forward improved soil mixing and pulverization characteristics.