Rubber-reinforced caterpillar tracks of agricultural tractors. Stiffness at tension and bending

The theoretical and experimental study of tensile stiffness and bending strength of rubber-reinforced caterpillar traclks of agricultural tractors is provided with the development of design models and analytical expressions and the assessment of their reliability. The discrepancy between the results of calculations of rubber-reinforced caterpillar tracks rigidity obtained by analytic expressions and experimental data does not exceed 3%, which confirms the possibility of the use of design models and analytical expressions in practical calculations. The effect of design of the power layer and the presence of damage at rubber-reinforced caterpillar tracks on stiffness indicators in tension and bending was experimentally evaluated. On the basis of experimental studies of rubber-reinforced caterpillar tracks was discovered that that the difference between the values of tensile stiffness of entire samples and damaged parts with cable structure is 10.44% and for cord design samples - 10.78%. This proves a minor impact of damage presence in the form of transverse cracks on caterpillar track stiffness value in tension (in the absence of bundles). The negligible effect of rubber-reinforced caterpillar tracks power layer design on the value of its tensile stiffness (when supporting capability of the considered power layers is constant) and significant influence of damage presence in the form of transverse cracks on the bending stiffness value of rubber-reinforced caterpillars were determined. Difference between the values of bending stiffness of entire samples and damaged parts of rubber-reinforced caterpillar tracks is 41,1 % for parts with cable structure and 22,9 % for cord design samples. This proves a major impact of damage presence in the form of transverse cracks on caterpillar track bending stiffness value.

agricultural tractor, rubber-reinforced caterpillar track, static loading, tensile stiffness, bending stiffness, theoretical research, design scheme, analytical expression, experimental study, research results