Design and analysis of the structural components of a field gantry

Abstract

Soil compaction due to wheeled tractors and trailed equipment has been a concern since the beginning of agricultural machanization. The interest in this subject has increased in recent years, as tractors and trailers have become heavier. Gantries pass over the field in fixed unplanted paths, between which lay the crop beds. Wheel traction increases due to soil compaction on the pathways, while the elimination of soil compaction in the growing area improves soil tilth, and provides the best soil condition for crops. To obtain optimum performance with a gantry, it must be properly designed to ensure that the structural components are strong, yet light. Since forces arising from various field operations which would act on the gantry were not directly available from the literature, they were estimated from various sources. Finite element analysis was then used to analyze the design and determine the most appropriate material sizes.