Reducing friction in tillage using ultrasonic vibration

Abstract

Within a research project at the Institute of Agricultural Machinery and Fluid Power at the Technische Universität Braunschweig in cooperation with the Institute of Dynamics and Vibration Research at the Leibniz Universität in Hannover the possibilities are researched to reduce friction in tillage operations by applying ultrasonic vibration. In this paper the design of a cultivator tine with ultrasonic vibration is described in consideration of its vibrational behaviour. The results of different experiments demonstrate the possibility to reduce required tractive forces significantly at a cultivator tine by applying ultrasonic oscillation. But furthermore it must be pointed out that there is still further research needed to reduce the energy consumption of the piezoactuator and to increase the possible working speed.