Effect of the design moldboard on the tillage forces

Finite element modeling FEM was used to simulate the cutting process of the soil using a moldboard and investigate the effect of its design parameters on the tillage forces. The moldboard body design was generated with the SolidWorks design software using a mathematical model that describes the relationship between its design parameters (alpha angle, beta angle, theta and gamma angle). For the FEM, the soil was represented by elasto-plastic model. Whereas, the design carried of the plow bodies, corresponding each to these parameters, were introduced into the software Abaqus as a discrete rigid body with a reference point at the end of the moldboard. At this tip, the reaction force with its three orthogonal components was calculated. The results showed an important effect of these parameters (gamma angleγ, theta θ, alpha α and beta β) that have a significant effect on the predicted results of the tillage force and on the specific force. To optimize tillage equipment designs for energy saving. They have to be combined with experimental results concerning the needed effect of the tillage process.