Abstract

NIEMAND, L.J.; SNYMAN, J.A.  and  WANNENBURG, J.. Profile optimization of a cultivator shank. R&D j. (Matieland, Online) [online]. 1995, vol.11, pp.7-11. ISSN 2309-8988.

Fracture failures are experienced of locally designed cultivator shanks. The local design differs from the proven designs employed internationally in that it possesses a greater global stiffness to cater for the harder South African soil conditions. The local design fails due to excessive stressing at the top bend. Modifications to the standard design in order to improve the durability of the shanks are discussed. The cross-sectional profiles are optimized to lessen and redistribute the stresses in the failure area whilst retaining the global stiffness of the local design. A modelling and optimization procedure is proposed and discussed in this paper, incorporating finite element analyses and numerical optimization techniques. It is shown that the optimized design lessens the stresses dramatically, thus improving the durability of the cultivator shank.

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