Three Dimensional Modelling and Stress Analysis of a Powered Single Acting Disc Harrow Using FEA

Ganesh Upadhyay*, Hifjur Raheman, Showkat Rasool

Department of Agricultural and Food Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur, West Bengal, India.

Corresponding Author Email: ganesh.upadhyay0@iitkgp.ac.in

DOI : http://dx.doi.org/10.12944/CARJ.5.2.08

Abstract:

The three-dimensional model of a powered single acting disc harrow was created in SolidWorks 2013 and then the stress analysis was carried out using Finite Element Analysis (FEA) well before development of the designed tillage machinery to obtain optimum dimensions of different parts and to analyze the maximum stress and deformation in each component of the system. Theoretical calculations were done for different components, and resulting values were used to apply force, moment and boundary constraints on designed 3D model. Designed central gearbox, side gear assembly, gang shaft, the shaft between U-joint and upper side gear and main frame were validated by doing static structural analysis in ANSYS R15.0 workbench software. The developed implement was rigorously field tested and operated successfully up to the depth of 14 cm and forward speed of 7 km h^-1 in sandy clay loam soil at an average moisture content of 12±0.75%(db). The field capacity, field efficiency and fuel consumption were found to be  0.37 to 0.57 ha h^-1, 71.23% to 81.35% and 4.95 to 6.42 l h^-1, respectively during first pass when operated at forward speeds of 3.69 to 6.55 km h^-1 and at an average operating depth of 12 cm. FEM enables to optimize and simulate the complex agricultural machinery and to investigate the stresses and deformations induced in the parts well before product development to avoid failure in the later phase of field evaluation.

Keywords:

ANSYS; Finite Element Analysis; Fuel Consumption; Solid Works; Static Structural Analysis

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