Dvoralai Wulfsohn

An instrumented device to obtain traction related parameters

Abstract A fully instrumented device to measure soil properties relevant to traction has been developed. The device can measure soil sinkage parameters (sinkage constant and exponent) utilizing sinkage plates, as well as soil shear parameters (maximum shear stress and shear modulus) using grouser plates. Moreover, this device can be used to measure soil come index. Field tests were conducted using three different rectangular plates (sinkage tests), and five different rectangular grouser plates (shear tests) in a firm and a tilled Yolo loam soil. The results of these tests show that the device works well in all three modes.

Constitutive model for high speed tillage using narrow tools

Abstract Dynamic effects on soil–tool cutting forces are important when operating at elevated speeds. The rate-dependent behavior of narrow tillage tools was investigated in this study. A hypoelastic soil constitutive relationship with variable Youngs modulus and Poissons ratio was developed to describe the dynamic soil-tool cutting problem. An initial finite element formulation with viscous components incorporated in the stiffness matrix resulted in severe numerical oscillations. A modified model that incorporated lumped viscous components in the equation of motion (independent of the stiffness matrix) was proposed. Numerical oscillations still occurred, but at sufficiently high tool displacements (1–10 mm) to enable the determination of peak draft forces. Experimental data for flat and triangular edged narrow tools were obtained using a 9-m long linear monorail system designed to accelerate narrow tools through a linear soil bin to high speeds. Steady-state speeds from 0.5 to 10.0 m/s over a distance of 1 to 3 m were attained using this system. A reference-tool inverse procedure was used to estimate the dynamic soil parameter in the soil model using draft data obtained for the flat tool. Predictions of triangular tool draft produced correct trends but overestimated experimental data. Draft was overpredicted by less than 1% at a tool speed of 2.8 m/s and by 25% at 8.4 m/s.

Volume estimation from projections

We describe a new estimator of the volume of axially convex objects from total vertical projections with known position of the vertical axis. The estimator combines the Cavalieri method with the known formula for area in terms of the support function of a convex body. We examine the accuracy of the proposed estimator for ellipsoidal objects having exactly known support function and volume. In addition, we illustrate practical problems of accuracy by implementing the method for some biological products.

Prediction of traction and soil compaction using three-dimensional soil-tyre contact profile

Abstract Prediction of traction and compaction in the soil profile based upon two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) representations of the dynamic soil-tyre contact area and an assumed pressure distribution over the profile are presented for two tyre sizes at two inflation pressures, two levels of dynamic load and two slip levels in a tilled Yolo Loam soil condition. A soil model based upon a semi-logarithmic porosity-stress relationship was used to obtain the pressure distribution. Traction predictions based upon the 3D surface were significantly better than those based upon the 2D surface. Compaction predictions were similar for both surfaces except for immediately below the soil surface.

Determination of dynamic three-dimensional soil-tyre contact profile

Abstract A technique for measuring the dynamic three-dimensional contact profile between a tyre and deformable soil has been developed. The method involves measuring incremental lateral arc lengths of the profile at discrete locations along the contact length and fitting the coefficients of a model of soil deformation at the soil-tyre interface to the experimental data using a nonlinear constrained optimization algorithm (SUMT). Two representations of the measured contact area were compared: (i) the two-dimensional surface which is the union of all points on the original undeformed soil surface which undergo deformation by the tyre; (ii) the final three-dimensional deformed surface. Contact area measurements were made for two different sized tyres at two levels of inflation pressure, dynamic load and slip in two different soil conditions. The contact width, length and area predicted by the technique were compared with corresponding values for static contact between a tyre and a rigid surface.

Traction prediction using soil parameters obtained with an instrumented analog device

Abstract A fully instrumented device capable of measuring soil sinkage and shear parameters developed at the Agricultural Engineering Department, University of California, Davis was employed to conduct in situ sinkage and shear tests in a tilled and a farm, dry, Yolo loam soil. Similar tests were also conducted in a tilled, moist Yolo loam soil. An 18.4R38 tire was tested at different levels of inflation pressure and axle loads in these soil conditions. Soil parameters obtained using the instrumented device were related to the traction prediction equation parameters using traction mechanics, principle of conservation of energy and dimensional analysis.

Simple stereological procedure to estimate the number and dimensions of root hairs

We demonstrate a simple procedure for systematic, uniformly random sampling of a root system of known length to obtain practically unbiased estimates of the total number and dimensions of root hairs. Irrespective of the length of the root system, only 100 root hairs need to be counted to estimate the total number with sufficient precision.Numbers and dimensions of root hairs were estimated for five crested wheatgrass (Agropyron cristatum L.) root systems that had been grown for one month in a gel. Less than one hour was required to obtain estimates of root hair parameters for a single plant. There was low variability of spatial density of root hairs within a given branching order (CV < 15%); however, because of large variation in the total length of laterals, the total number of root hairs varied greatly (CV ∼70%). On average, root hairs provided half of the total surface area of a root system and a total length 20 times that of the roots.

Non-destructive, stereological estimation of plant root lengths, branching pattern and diameter distribution

The total length of a linear structure contained in an unbounded, transparent reference space can be estimated from ‘total vertical projections’ obtained by rotating the linear structure about an arbitrary ‘vertical’ axis, and projecting the linear structure onto a plane parallel to the axis of rotation. The total number of intersections between cycloid arcs with their minor axis perpendicular to the axis of rotation and the projected linear structure then provides an unbiased estimator of the total length of the structure. In this study, a stereological procedure based on the method of ‘total vertical projections’ was used to non-destructively estimate total root length, number of branches, diameter distribution and mean root diameter of crested wheatgrass plants (Agropyron cristatum L.) growing in a transparent medium. Root lengths, diameters, and number of branching points of various orders were determined at 3-day intervals over a 4-week growing period. The length estimator was very robust and efficient with sampling coefficients of error usually less than 5% for a total of 50–150 grid intersection counts over two projection directions per plant. Biological coefficients of variance for total length were between 30–70%, and were largely related to variation in the extent of branching.