Thesis Format
Monograph
Degree
Master of Engineering Science
Program
Mechanical and Materials Engineering
Supervisor
Zhang, Chao
Abstract
The industrial drainage plow is a mechanized tool used for the installation of agricultural drainage, trenching, and installation of underground pipes. To make the plow more competitive in the industry, this research aims to modify the shape of the plow to increase the tile installation efficiency, which will reduce fuel consumption. Numerical methods will be used in this study to predict the tillage forces on the plow. Numerical simulations will be carried out for the plowing processes under different working conditions with different plow shapes. Also, the load distribution on the plow will be obtained based on the numerical results, which will allow the modification of the structural components to make the plow more efficient and more durable. First, a numerical model for the simulation of the drainage plow operation process is developed, which can predict the performance of the drainage plow in soil, such as force, pressure distribution, topsoil placement, etc. The drag force is a key factor affecting the efficiency of the drainage plow. The pressure on the plow affects the service life of the plow, and the topsoil placement affects the subsequent backfilling of the soil. Then, the modification of the shape of the drainage plow is performed to reduce the drag force and surface pressure without compromising the topsoil placement. The comparison shows that the performance of the modified drainage plow is significantly improved.
Summary for Lay Audience
Drainage plows are essential equipment in agriculture, and their main functions are agricultural drainage, trenching, and installation of underground pipes to control soil moisture and reduce soil erosion, thereby increasing the productivity of the land. With the development of new technology, drainage plows are powered by large machines. To reduce the operating costs of large machinery. Improving the efficiency and extending the service life of drainage plows is particularly important.
In this research, numerical simulations are carried out to study the plowing process of a drainage plow in different types of soils. Compared with the experimental method, the numerical method is more efficient, which can greatly reduce the time and cost. First, a numerical model for the simulation of the drainage plow operation is developed, which can predict various performance parameters of the drainage plow in soil, such as drag force, pressure distribution by soil, topsoil placement, etc. The drag force is a key factor affecting the efficiency of the drainage plow. The pressure on the plow affects the service life of the plow, and topsoil placement affects the subsequent backfilling of the soil. Then the modification of the drainage plow is performed reduce the drag force and surface pressure without compromising the topsoil placement. The comparison shows that the performance of the modification drainage plow is significantly improved.
Recommended Citation
Xu, Yuanyi, "Numerical Studies of Drag Forces on Drainage Plows" (2023). Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository. 9828.
https://ir.lib.uwo.ca/etd/9828