TY - SER AU - Jumamuratova,Guljamal AU - Salokhe,Vilas M. AU - Jayasuriya,H.P.W. AU - Canillas,Emmanuel C. AU - Sharma,Ajay K. ED - The Government of Japan, TI - Application of bionics to disc plows in wet clay soil T2 - Thesis PY - 2005/// CY - Pathum Thani, Thailand PB - Asian Institute of Technology KW - Clay soils N1 - A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Engineering, School of Environment, Resources and Development; Thesis (M.Eng.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 2005 N2 - The effects of surface modification using bionics on disc plows for reducing draft force requirements and soil adhesion were studied. The surfaces of disc plow were made unsmoothed by bionics (design of the non-smooth surfaces was based on the morphological features of soil animals' cuticles) and their draft force requirements and soil adhesion was compared with that of the conventional plow of the same size and under similar conditions. Effects of soil moisture content (29%, 35% and 48% d.b.) and forward plowing speed (1, 3 and 5 km/h) were also studied. Disc angle (45°), tilt angle (21°), and the depth of plowing (20 cm) were kept constant throughout the experiments. Results showed reduced draft force requirements for bionic disc plows. The highest value of reduction in draft was 33% for bionic disc plow with convex surface at 48% soil moisture content and 5 km/h forward speed. This reduction was found statistically significant. Also increase of soil moisture content showed decrease in the draft force. However, rate of increase was less in case of bionic disc plows, increase in speed caused steep increase in draft force requirements UR - http://203.159.5.9/ait-thesis/detail.php?q=B11173 ER -