Área de contato de pneu agrícola de alta flutuação determinada pelo método da prensa hidráulica.

Abstract

The operational performance of wheeled tires of agricultural tractors depends of the geometry, applied loads, inflation pressure, among other factors like the type of soil and its physical conditions. The correct interaction between these variables may supply a substantial improvement in soil compaction, a potential increase in traction, consequently traction efficiency and energy consumption. The contact area between wheel and soil has fundamental importance in prediction of traction and soil compaction. The present work had as objective the determination of the contact area between the tire and a rigid surface using a well-known and practiced procedure, like the hydraulic presser method. It was used a clay soil bin supporting a 600/60-38 Trelleborg Twin tire under inflation pressure to 10 psi until 30 psi, submitted to axial loads, varying 5.4 kN to 38.4 kN. A trial with fiveinflation pressure and six axial loads (5x6 factorial) with 5 replication were used. Results showed that the wheel/soil contact areas were varied due the different inflation pressure and axial loads applied to the tire.