3D dynamic analysis of soil-tool interaction using the finite element method

Previous experimental and finite element studies have shown the influence of both soil initial conditions and blade operating conditions on cutting forces. However, most of these finite element analyses (FEA) are limited to small blade displacements to reduce element distortion which can cause solution convergence problems. In this study a dynamic three-dimensional FEA of soil-tool interaction was carried out based on predefined failure surfaces to investigate the effect of cutting speed and angle on cutting forces over large blade displacements. Sandy soil was considered in this study and modeled using the hypoplastic constitutive model implemented in the commercial FEA package, ABAQUS. Results reveal the validity of the concept of predefined failure surfaces in simulating soil-tool interaction and the significant effect of cutting acceleration on cutting forces. (C) 2003 ISTVS. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.