Performance evaluation of the universal steerage hoe design using the Harrington’s desirability function

Abstract

Choice of the most effective hoe design among their set, used in practice, has been justified. Methodology has been developed for selecting the most effective hoe design for complete tillage from those offered by LLC Trading House MTZ-NORTH-WEST. For each model, the required engine power, price and weight of machine are justified, per 1 m of working width, as well as energy intensity of the cultivation process per 1 hectare of cultivated arable land. Fulfillment of the initial requirements for full cultivation has been analyzed in comparison with series-produced, widely used test units, and preference has been given to the proposed ones, due to the complexity of machine-tractor unit (MTU). Proposed decision-making technique for choosing the best design of a universal steerage hoe, is based on the Harrington’s desirability function. Scales have been developed for the desirability of justified private evaluation indicators of the design of compared hoes, which have been taken as: tractor specific power, required for hoe aggregation, price and weight of structure, as well as the work process energy intensity. For each of the five hoes, a composite index of comprehensive design assessment has been found. Preference is given to the hoe with maximum value of composite index of comprehensive design assessment. Calculations have accounted for the value of the composite index, both considering weight of private evaluation indicators and without it. According to calculated data, preference from the family of universal steerage hoes has been given to the METI ULTIMA 15000 wide-grip designs due to its optimal power-to-weight ratio and its unit price, even despite the highest work process energy intensity.