Evaluation of Whole-Body-Vibration Among Tractor (41 kW) Drawn Subsoilers

Abstract

Whole-body-vibration can be say to that part of vibration which received by a person’s body, from the machine. Subsoiling is heavy draft farm operation so to know the effect of subsoiling on vibration, it needs documentation which helps to decide safe exposure limits in sense of duration of safe subsoilling hours. For study, three subsoilers as single tine straight shank subsoiler (S1), double tine straight shank subsoiler (S2), and double tine curved shank subsoiler (S3) at three different depths (20-25, 25-30, and 30-35 cm) performed subsoiling and evaluated the effect of subsoiling on different parameters as vibration, fuel consumption, wheel slip, draft, and soil disturbance area were observed and analyzed. The vibration was increased as operating depth was increased. It was recorded maximum at depth of 30-35 cm (d3) for “X” direction as 0.296 m/s2, for “Y” direction as 0.284 m/s2, for “Z” direction as 0.431 m/s2, and for total acceleration (Ahv) as 0.451 m/s2. The vibration in “X” direction was increased 5.86 % and 11.64 %, in “Y” direction was increased 6.52 % and 12.42 %, in “Z” direction was increased 3.68 % and 8.11 %, and Ahv was increased 10.23 % and 13.59 %, for d2 and d3 depths compared to d1 depth. On the other hand, the fuel consumption, wheel slip, and draft were found maximum for S2 subsoiler and minimum for S1 subsoiler. Soil disturbance area was observed maximum for S2 subsoiler and minimum for S1 subsoiler. Also same effect as vibration, the increased subsoiling depth resulted increased in these parameters. The safe exposure working hours were calculated as work with S1 subsoiler at the depths of d1, d2, and d3 were 8 h, 6 h, and 4 h respectively. Same as for S2 subsoiler were 4 hours at all depths and for S3 subsoiler it was calculated 4 to 6 hours. In conclusion, single tine subsoiler can be a better option for subsoiling. Only the soil disturbance area and field capacity becomes half as compared to double tine subsoilers.