VALIDATIONS OF MOLDBOARD PLOW SIMULATIONS WITH FEM ON A CLAY SOIL

Abstract

Moldboard plow simulations performed at different depths (100, 150 and 200 mm) and speeds (0.25, 1 and2 m/s) with the Finite Element Method (FEM) were validated by means of soil bin and field experiments in a clay soil. TheCritical State and Coulombic models were used to describe soil mechanical and soil-tool friction behaviors, respectively.No significant differences were found between calculated and simulated longitudinal (Fx) forces. Predicted values of Fxwere also in agreement with field experiment results except at speeds less than 1 m/s. The vertical forces calculated weresignificantly smaller for the lower and higher speed treatments. Lateral forces were not compared as the plow bottom frogprovided extra lateral support during the experiments. The Cam clay model (no cohesion term) may be used for soil-toolsystems for which soil cohesion is negligible. When used with appropriate material behavior and soil-tool interactionmodels, FEM may be used to solve 3-D problems having complex geometry.