Structural loading on a rigid tine cultivator frame

Linkage loads and structural strains have been measured in field tests with a rigid tine cultivator, at a variety of sites with typical agricultural soil conditions. The objectives were to study the relationship between loads and strains and assess whether a simple laboratory endurance test is possible for a rigid tine cultivator. The load and strain histories recorded in any one test all followed the same basic pattern. The same sequence and timing of peaks and troughs were repeated in each history, implying that all tines experienced the same load at the same time. Vertical loads were generally about 10% of horizontal loads and consequently could be neglected in a fatigue test. This suggests a simple laboratory endurance test in which equal horizontal cyclic loads are applied to all tines simultaneously.