Methodology for the realisation of accelerated structural tests on tractors

The most significant efforts to reduce the development costs on tractors have been concentrated by manufacturers on the attempt to decrease the costs of experimental testing. The validation of tractor prototypes is presently performed with a replication of a particularly harsh condition a defined number of times. Field tests are also carried out to evaluate the prototype during real use, but it is difficult to perform such tests for a long enough period to achieve reliable results. In this context, accelerated tests have been introduced in the automotive sector and on tractor components. The goal of this paper is to define a methodology to perform accelerated structural tests on tractors, through the reproduction of real customer tractor usage. A market analysis was performed on a 80 kW power tractor and a series of measures were then taken to simulate the real use of the tractor. Subsequently, rainflow matrixes of the signals were extrapolated and used to estimate the tractor loads for 10 years of tractor life. Finally these loads were reproduced on testing grounds with special road pavements. The results obtained highlight the possibility of reproducing field loads during road driving on proving grounds, but the use of field operations is also necessary. The global acceleration factor obtained in this first step of the methodology is equal to three but can be increased.

Graphical abstractFigure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slideHighlights► Automotive proving grounds cannot reproduce tractor damage without field operations. ► With the optimisation proposed it is possible to accelerate the test considerably. ► Global acceleration factor is three but can be increased.