| Author | Wittaya Chuen-upakaranant |
| Call Number | AIT Thesis no.AE-96-08 |
| Subject(s) | Rotary tillers
|
| Note | A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements
for the degree of Master of Engineering |
| Publisher | Asian Institute of Technology |
| Abstract | The performance of a rotavator equipped with uncoated and enamel coated tines was evaluated. The experiments were conducted in a clay soil at an average soil moisture content of 21.6% (db). The effect of speed and pass on power requirement and working qualities was evaluated The power requirement and quality of work was compared for uncoated and enamel coated tines under similar working conditions. It was found that the higher saving in power of 22% was obtained at 1.5 km/h speed during the first pass of enamel coated tines compared to uncoated tines. The statistical analysis by "F" test showed that type of tines affect the power requirement significantly at 99% level of significance during the first pass. The power requirements of the enamel coated tines was higher than the uncoated tines in the second pass, but it gave better soil inversion. The power requirement during the second and third pass, at any forward speed for both tines, was not significantly different at 99% level of significance. The quality of work in terms of bulk density was almost the same for both tines, except in the second pass, may be due to variation of soil properties within the test plot itself. The cone index of soil after tilling by enamel coated and uncoated tines was almost the same. After the second pass, the cone index was reduced by 41 % of the cone index recorded after the first pass. Soil inversion by enamel coated tines was higher than the uncoated tines by 30% and 50% in the second and third pass, respectively. This might be the reason for slightly higher power requirement for the enamel coated tines during the second and third passes. The wear characteristics of enamel coated tines was found to be less than the uncoated tines. Although the hardness of enamel coated tines was less than uncoated tines. The hardness of enamel coated tine and uncoated tine was 18.4 and 57 HRC, respectively. The tilling depth and soil mean weight diameter were also the same during testing both tines. |
| Year | 1996 |
| Type | Thesis |
| School | School of Environment, Resources, and Development (SERD) |
| Department | Department of Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources (Former title: Department of Food Agriculture, and BioResources (DFAB)) |
| Academic Program/FoS | Agricultural and Food Engineering (AE) |
| Chairperson(s) | Salokhe, Vilas M.; |
| Examination Committee(s) | Gee-Clough, D.;Tanya Niyamapa; |
| Scholarship Donor(s) | Government of Austria; |
| Degree | Thesis (M.Eng.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 1996 |