Evaluation of a Concrete Conical Press Wheel Used to Compact Ridge Sides for Rainfall Concentration

Abstract

An experiment was conducted in the soil bin laboratory of Cranfield University, England, to evaluate the performance of a concrete conical press wheel used to compact ridge sides for concentration of rainfall in the furrow bottom. The evaluation included compaction of the ridge side in terms of soil bulk density and rolling resistance of the press wheel under different weights. The soil of the bin is sand loam (67% sand, 20% silt, 13% clay). The test was carried out at two soil moisture contents: 7.55% and 9.66%. For each added weight the test was replicated three times. In each run 18 soil samples were taken for the measurement of soil bulk density and moisture content. The weight of the wheel was 37 kg. The tested weights were 128 kg, 200 kg and 400 kg. It was observed that the bulk density of the ridge sides increased due to the increase in the added weight and increase in soil moisture content. It increased from approximately 1.25 to 1.35 g/cm3 at 7.55% soil moisture content and from 1.40 to 1.55 g/cm3 at 9.66% soil moisture content. Press wheel under the weight of 128 kg had the least rolling resistance ratio at both soil moisture contents. However, observation during the experiment revealed that compaction of the ridges by the press wheel under the load of 400 kg resulted in cracking of the top of the ridges while under the weight 200 kg it produced a good finish of the ridges top and sides.