Analytical assessment of the interaction between tyre and ground surface

Abstract

The paper addresses the agroecological assessment of soil compaction caused by the wheels of machine–tractor aggregates, taking into account real operating conditions of their interaction with deformable supporting surfaces. It is shown that the existing regulatory framework is based on tire contact patch areas determined on rigid surfaces under nominal wheel loads and inflation pressures, which does not adequately reflect actual operating conditions on soils. It is substantiated that on soil surfaces the contact area is larger and depends on soil type and condition, wheel load, and tire inflation pressure.

Based on an analysis of recent studies and the results of experimental measurements of the contact patch area for commonly used tractor tire sizes, empirical relationships for calculating the tire–soil contact area were evaluated and compared with experimental data. The formation of contact pressure, rut depth, and changes in these parameters during the passage of subsequent axles were also investigated.

An analysis was performed of the influence of tire size, inflation pressure, and wheel load on the characteristics of interaction with soils of different hardness, assessed using the cone index (CI). The obtained results can be used to refine regulatory approaches to the agroecological assessment of the impact of wheeled machinery on the soil supporting surface.