Dimensional Analysis of the Tractor Tractive Efficiency Parameters

One of the important parameters of the tractor’s performance - tractive efficiency - should be improved during agricultural operation; this paper observes this parameter using the Arvid 354 tractor with a chisel plough. Parameters taken into account included the tillage parameters, such as tillage depth, travel velocity, rake angle, tine width and tractor weight, as well as soil engineering properties, including cohesion and soil bulk density. Experimental results indicated that the tractor tractive efficiency increased with increasing of the tillage depth and rake angle, whereas travel velocity did not show any specific impact on it. Theoretical equations were extracted for drawbar pull, tyre slip and gross traction using dimensional analysis and experimental data. Finally, by combining these equations, the tractive efficiency was estimated. Obtained model was evaluated by means of obtained experimental data. Results showed that the proposed model is capable of predicting tractive efficiency as a function of soil parameters, tractor weight and tillage parameters of the chisel plough.