Finite Element Modeling of Tractor Tire Composite Structure to Analyze Inflation Pressure Effects on Compression

Abstract

Tractors play a crucial role in alleviating the workload of farmers across various agricultural processes, including land preparation, seed sowing, pest control, and harvesting. However, the direct contact of tractor tires with the soil often results in soil compaction, which adversely affects soil quality. A common approach to mitigate soil compaction is to lower the inflation pressure of agricultural tires, as this increases the tire's contact area and distributes the load more evenly. Nonetheless, reduced inflation pressure decreases the tire's vertical stiffness, thereby elevating the risk of tire damage. This study investigates the effects of inflation pressure on tractor tires by employing the finite element method (FEM) to model their composite structure. The study utilized a composite finite element (FE) modeling technique, demonstrating high accuracy when compared to experimental tire compression tests. An image processing technique was also applied to validate the tire footprint model. The developed FE model exhibited an average error of 8.62% and was subsequently used to examine the effects of inflation pressure, resulting in the creation of a characteristic chart that provides farmers with practical guidance for maintaining optimal tire pressure to ensure efficient operation in cultivated fields.