Evaluation of Vibration Reduction Techniques in Agricultural Tractors: A Design of Experiments Approach

Operator comfort is among the most crucial features of agricultural tractors. Tractor operators work long hours and are subjected to vibrations and mechanical shocks, which are potentially harmful to their health. When selecting a tractor for agricultural use, one of the main factors to consider is tactile vibrations. The mandate for this project includes an investigation of tractor vibration control issues. For identifying the source of the issue, study of the controlling system is crucial. The objective of the study was to evaluate the vibrations transmitted through the tractor and to reduce vibrations on specific tactile locations through the design of experiments (DOE) method. In this paper, testing is performed on the specified tactile locations; to reduce resonance-induced vibrations, a range of approaches are being explored, including lowering the natural frequency away from the second-order engine frequency and improving the damping coefficient to lower the vibration amplitude at resonance. The findings provide insights into improving tractor ergonomics and reducing operator fatigue.