Simulation of tillage forces and soil movement during soil-disc plow interaction using FEM

Tillage forces and the disturbance of the soil are important performance indicators and soil dynamic properties for disc plow. In this work, a 3D model of FEM was developed to predict the effects of speed, the depth, disc angle (DA), and tilt angle (TA), on lateral, vertical, and draught forces and on the disturbance of the soil. This study showed that working at higher depth and speed of the disc tool increased the consumption of energy. Working with greater tilt and smaller disc angles decreased the draught and lateral forces, which reduced the consumption of energy and favored the stability of the tractor. However, it increases the vertical force and favors the penetration of this disc in soil. Disc and tilt angles had a greater impact on the consumed energy than depth and tillage speed with 87%, 56%, 40%, and 15%, respectively. Furthermore, this study showed that the increase of the tilt angle reduced the disturbance of the soil. However, more compression and disturbance of the soil were observed when the disc angle was increased. The minimum consumed energy with better burial of the residues and mixing of seeds in the soil can occur at a disc and tilt angle fixed at DA = 30° and TA = 15°.