Laboratory optimization of the soil digging process

Abstract

A new idea for the optimization of digging using earth-working machinery is presented and experimentally verified. This idea is based on the conclusions derived from previous papers presented by the same authors, that the soil cutting trajectories incorporating the generated shear band as a part of them are the optimal ones. Dividing the whole excavation task into several repeatable cycles for which the soil free boundary before and after the experiment are similar the optimization of a single cycle plays a significant role in the energetic efficiency of the whole task. A single cycle of the working process is defined using several basing parameters. The influence of each parameter on the specific unit energy of the process was experimentally verified. Finally, a set of values for the discussed parameters is recommended for the particular soil and tool shape. © 2002 ISTVS. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.