Impact of vertical load, multiple passes, and speed on rut depth in soil under pneumatic and track wheels

When vehicles pass over soil, ruts are created in the soil, the effect of which can be found in soil compaction. This research was conducted to investigate and rank the effect of vertical load, multiple passes, and forward speed on rut depth. The experiments included two types of wheels, three vertical loads (2, 3 and 4 kN), three forward speeds (1, 2, and 3 km/h), and fifteen passes levels. The data obtained were analyzed using statistical analysis and the Taguchi optimization method. The results showed that all the factors studied, each independently and in interaction, significantly affect the depth of soil rut. Statistical analysis showed that the type of wheels had the significant effect on the rut depth after multiple passes, vertical load, and forward speed. This study indicated that the percentage contribution of the first pass to the total rut depth decreases with increasing vertical load for wheels. In contrast, subsequent passes play a greater role in soil deformation. The results showed that the percentage contribution of the first pass to the total furrow depth for the pneumatic wheel and the track wheel at a vertical load of 2 kN is 67.08% and 55.11%, respectively, which decreases to 59.56% and 51.96%, with increases in the vertical load to 3 kN. These results are important for operating agricultural machinery, as they can help reduce soil damage in agricultural fields. Using track wheel, reducing vertical loads, and reducing multiple passes over a particular path can effectively help reduce damage to soil structure.