Influence of Dimensions of UHMW-PE Protuberances on Sliding Resistance and Normal Adhesion of Bangkok Clay Soil to Biomimetic Plates

A number of investigations into application of polymers for macro-morphological modification of tool surface have been carried out. These researches, with extensive stress on convex or domed protuberations as one of the widely used construction units, have tried to harness benefits from using polymers in agriculture. Ultra high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMW-PE) has proved an emerging polymer in its application to reduce soil adhesion. This research was conducted to study the effect of shape (flat, semi-spherical, semi-oblate, semi short-prolate and semi long-prolate) and dimensions (base diameter and dome height) on sliding resistance and normal adhesion of biomimetic plates. To incorporate both shape and size, a dimensionless ratio of height to diameter (HDR) was introduced to characterize the effect of construction unit's physique. Experiments were conducted in Bangkok clay soil with dry (19.8% d.b.), sticky (36.9% d.b.) and flooded (60.1% d.b.) soil conditions respectively. Soil at sticky limit exhibited the highest sliding resistance (77.8 N) and normal adhesion (3 kPa to 7 kPa), whereas these values were 61.7 N and <0.2 kPa in dry, and 53.7 N and 0.5 kPa to 1.5 kPa in flooded soil conditions. Protuberances with HDR ≤ 0.5 lowered sliding resistance by 10%–30% and the same reduced normal adhesion by 10%–60%. The amount of reduction in both sliding resistance and normal adhesion was higher in flooded soil. Lighter normal loads obviously produced lesser resistance and adhesion.