Effects and Interactions between Factors Affecting the Shearing Characteristics of Forage Harvesters

ABSTRACT SIX variables affecting the shear-ing characteristics of forage harvesters were identified. Some of the results obtained by Liljedahl et al., (1961) in their univariant experiments were further analyzed to show the importance of effects and interactions between variables on the shearing energy. A 26 factorial experiment was carried out and from the force displacement curves obtained, the distance through which the knife compressed and cut the forage and the maximum force were measured. The shearing energy was calculated and the results were analyzed. The results show that some interactions between the factors as well as the main effects of some of the factors were significant.