M. Muhaemin et al., Studies on aluminum-made chassis-type frame model of a tractor I: Comparative static strength analysis and mass reduction, T ASAE, 42(5), 1999, pp. 1229-1237
In order to reduce tractor mass, an aluminum alloy was adopted for a tracto
r frame model instead of steel. To investigate its strength characteristics
, numerical approach using the finite element method (FEM) and the experime
ntal trial frame with a scale factor of 1:2 were conducted. The FEM results
showed that the aluminum frame in this specific model, which is 20% lighte
r; is capable of providing higher strength than that of steel. In terms of
stiffness, the aluminum model was 60% and 33% better compared with that of
steel in lateral and torsional loading, respectively. Despite these data, h
owever it exhibited 12% higher deflection for vertical loading. These FEM r
esults encouraged practical potentiality for design improvement as far as t
hese loading tests are concerned.