Evaluation of a Single Wheel Testing Device with Mechanical Transmission

Single Wheel Testing Device was projected, built, instrumented, and evaluated using a mechanical transmission of a tractor, linked to a power take off of an auxiliary tractor. The device was mounted using half of a standard tractor differential and transmission gear totalizing 24 forward speed options. The Device was equipped with several sensors (torque, rotation, force, fuel consumption) hooked up to a data logger, permitting to determine wheel performance parameters, net and gross traction coefficient, and tractive efficiency. Tests were realized in different soil surfaces and tire conditions, varying the forward speed and slip up to 14 km/h and 34%, respectively, The results of a comparative research using radial and bias ply tires under different tire pressures and loads showed the best performance for radial ply tires.